In Chennai most people google looking for a health consultant for weight loss. Very often I am informed that people are frantically searching for weight loss centres in Anna nagar or weight loss centres in velachery or weight loss centres in guindy or weight loss centres in saidapet -to name a few. As people age it is the low back pain that drives them to search for weight loss centres as soon as the doctor tells them that they have to reduce their weight.
The commonest pain in both the young and the old alike is low back pain. The low back consists of the lumbosacral vertebra along with their attached muscles and ligaments. The muscles of the lower back are broadly classified into the extensors, the flexors and the obliques. The extensions are those that work while bending down to pick up objects from a standing posture. They include the erector spinae muscle and the gluteal muscles. The flexors enable bending forward of the spine and arching the back. The obliques help in twisting the spine.
Whether you bend down to pick up weight or experience a rough tug by your dog or have a long ride on rough terrain with bumps all along- somewhere everyone has experienced a low back pain.
The causes of low back pain could be one of the following. 1. Stretched or torn muscles or ligaments 2. Bulging or slipped intervertebral discs 3. Abdominal obesity putting pressure on the back 4. Long hours of sitting which strains the back 5. Neurological pain could be a low back pain radiating to the legs 6. Arthritis or inflammation of the joints 7. Spinal stenosis or narrowing of the spinal cord. Other rare causes could be cancers spreading to the bones
The commonest cause of low back pain today, is beyond doubt obesity. This is compounded by long hours of sitting at work. The excess weight in the midsection pulls the pelvic bone in front and upsets the alignment of the muscles and tendons and leads to strain.
The next vital area of concern, is the intervertebral disc, which is in fact a shock absorber of sorts. It lies between the vertebrae and prevents undue shocks to the spinal column. It is composed of two parts, a gelly like central portion enclosed in a fibrous outer portion. With overweight the inner portion bursts through the outer portion and results in herniation of the disc leading to low back pain. Likewise excess weight might put pressure on the disc causing a discal bulge which may impinge on the nerve roots causing a radiating pain down the legs.
Obesity or overweight can cause breakage of one of the bones of the back, usually the lower thoracic or upper lumbar bones. This is called a compression fracture, very common in those overweight especially in the aged population with osteoporosis. Weight around the belly can worsen arthritic pains of joints of the back.
Also the excess belly fat can increase the curvature of the back called exaggerated lumbar lordosis. This is further worsened by wearing high healed shoes.
Preventing low back pain is just next to impossible . Some preventive tips can be borne in mind. First is to prevent obesity. Second is to bend down at the knees to lift weight. Hold the weight close to the body while lifting weight. Some strengthening of the core muscles – the back , the abs and the gluts can go a low way in preventing low back pain. A prolapsed disc is always a danger zone and has to be handled with caution.Third is to maintain a good posture. Fourth and most important is eating healthy food rich in calcium, phosphorus and vitD for bone health. Regular practise of Yoga helps in the prevention
Physiological causes in women like pregnancy can cause low back pain. Mild stretches to the back during pregnancy can relieve this pain. Likewise pelvic inflammatory diseases in women can cause low back pain and needs to be treated. This is not the reason that women google for weight loss centres in T nagar or weight loss centres in KK nagar or elsewhere. It is always overweight leading to low back pain
Any low back pain needs to be treated with rest and assurance. Resting the spine for a couple of days helps. Modification of activity that cause muscle spasm can help. Usually long hours of sitting worsen low back pain and hence intermittent standing every 30 minutes with an alarm to alert the person to stand up, are worth trying. Heat in the form of hot water bags can be applied over a sprain and ice packs can be applied over inflamed areas. Alternating between heat therapy and ice therapy is useful when getting back to activity- heat is used before activity to relax the muscle and ice after activity to reduce inflammation.
Over the counter medications better be avoided because they give a false feeling of wellness and overstrain which can worsen the existing problem. A diagnosis by the family physician as to the cause of pain is essential before any oral drugs are started.