What is Prushta Basti (Back Region)?
Low back pain is a universal human experience — almost everyone has it at some point. The lower back, which starts below the ribcage, is called the lumbar region. Pain here can be intense and is one of the top causes of missed work. Fortunately, low back pain often gets better on its own. When it doesn’t, there are effective treatments
Lower back pain is one of the most common of pain disorders encountered in practice: Surveys indicate that 70 per cent of the population suffers from low back pain at some time in their lives. The highest rate of back pain occurs among the 45 to 64 year age group. The incidence of low back pain is greater among women. In 90 per cent of patients, low back pain resolves within six weeks, i.e., it is self-limited. In another 5 per cent the pain resolves by 12 weeks.
Symptomatology & Etiology
Known to Ayurveda as Katigrahama or Prishtasula, the condition is characterized by a chronic, persistent pain ranging from a dull ache to a sharp stab-like pain to a burning sensation affecting the lower back. It may also present with stiffness and loss of motility, numbness or tingling with pain shooting down the buttocks, back of the thighs and the legs and feet.
Low back ache is often precipitated by moving, lifting objects or twisting of the waist. Severe pain in the low back can be quite debilitating to patients. Pain in the lower back restricts activity and reduces work capacity and quality of enjoyment of everyday living and turns daily life into a misery. The source of low back pain may be also due often to pushing oneself beyond physical or emotional capacity. The spine needs stability and, therefore, the mind must also be steady; emotional and mental perturbations thus also may play a part in this condition’s etiology.
One of the common causes for the backache is a poor posture habit. Balanced posture decreases stress on your back by keeping the muscles, bones and other supporting parts in their natural position. Any change from normal spinal curve can stress or pull muscles. This leads to increased muscle contraction, which causes pain. Low back pain can result due to health problems like osteoporosis, scoliosis, and spinal stenosis. Sprain or strain of muscles or ligaments in the area can also manifest in low back pain. Other possible causes include fibromyalgia and benign or malignant tumors. A fall or blow to the back can strain or tear tissues around the spine, or even break a bone leading to back pain. Lack of exercise or incorrect exercise can also lead to low back pain. Too much weight or overweight also is a cause of low back pain. Less than 5 per cent of back pain account for true nerve-related pain.