Back pain is a common problem for both men and women, but it is reported higher in women than men. Especially chronic lower back pain is found more in women. Back pain is a symptom of several diseases that mainly affects muscles, ligaments and bones of the back. Sometimes, it’s underlying causes become difficult to define. In the most instances, stress and strain are the main causes of lower back pain. It can start at any age, but more common at the age of 30 or above. In women, causes of lower back pain also vary from men, which depend on the different activities and unique structures in the women. In this article, we will have a discussion on major causes of low back pain in women and learn about its effective natural solutions.
Causes of Low Back Pain in Women
Women have the following causes of lower back pain:
Menstruation
Low back pain before and during menstruation can accompany with bloating and abdominal pain in some women. The location of pain is center portion of the lower back. It can begin a few days before periods. Usually, it subsides after the onset of menstrual period. In some cases, it continues during and after periods. It is not a serious problem for the most women. A few women may have intolerable pain that can affect their daily activities. If a woman experiences lower back pain around menstruation, it is typically muscular pain.
Dysmenorrhea
Generally, hormonal changes are a common cause of this type of pain. The high level of Prostaglandins during menstruation causes painful periods. It causes uterine contractions during menstrual cycle to shed the linings of the uterus. It also affects muscles of the lower back. The excess level of prostaglandins causes heavy contractions of the uterus, it leads to dysmenorrhea (painful periods). It also results in lower back pain by affecting lower back muscles. In case of dysmenorrhea, a woman may also have nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headache or fainting.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is another condition in which women also experience lower back pain. Low back pain is present in about 15% of women suffering from endometriosis. Usually, it occurs during the menstrual cycle. The exact cause why endometriosis cause back pain is yet not known. However, pain in this case also radiates to hip and legs. The condition is often associated with chronic fatigue too.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection that affects pelvic organs in the women. It can also spread from the lining of the uterus to fallopian tubes and sometimes to the ovaries. Along with lower abdominal pain, the patient also suffers from low back pain. The characteristic of pain is feeling of constant pressure around the pelvis and lower back.
Subserosal Fibroids
Subserosal Fibroids are the type of uterine fibroids, which are present in the outside lining of the uterus. The large subserosal fibroids protrude into the spine from the back of the uterus. It causes pressure against the spine and thus results in back pain.
Excessive Stress on Back
There are several activities in the daily life of women that can cause stress, strain and pressure on the lower back. These also result in back stiffness and lower back pain. It may include the following activities:
- Bending up and down several times a day to pick up something or a child.
- Lifting child with the back.
- Staying longer at the sink for washing dishes and laundry.
- Cleaning floor.
- Washing clothes with hands.
- Overuse of back muscles working out at the gym.
- Working with wrong postures with hunching shoulders.
Other Causes
Other causes can be same for the low back pain that also affect men. It can include several conditions of the spine such as degenerative or herniated discs, injury to the back etc.
Natural Treatment to Reduce Low Back Pain
Here we will discuss the natural treatment and effective home remedies that can help to reduce lower back pain.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha also known as Indian Ginseng has anodyne and anti-inflammatory properties. It also strengthens back muscles and bones. The supplementation with Ashwagandha powder or capsule helps to relieve mild to moderate lower back pain. It reduces back fatigue, discomfort, weakness, inflammation and stiffness.
If a woman has back pain during menstrual period or suffers from painful periods and if the underlying cause is chronic stress, then ashwagandha is the most suitable herb for her. Because Ashwagandha reduces stress hormones and enhances the tolerance to stress. Secondly, it also has effects on back muscles. It relaxes the muscles and reduces stiffness and pain.
Shatavari
Shatavari or asparagus root can help in cases of back pain associated with menstrual periods, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), underweight women and women feeling weakness and fatigue in the back. Shatavari helps to modulate hormonal levels and reduces menstrual discomfort and pain. It further strengthens the muscles and bones and improves the tolerability of the body to physical stress.
Boswellia Serrata
In some cases, women suffering from back pain may require painkiller to get relief from pain. Boswellia Serrata (Indian Frankincense) or Shallaki is the best alternative to prescription NSAID. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Along with Ashwagandha, it can help to reduce pain occurring due to excessive stress on the back. It contains boswellic acid that improves blood flow, reduces inflammation and relieves back pain. It is the most effective natural medicine especially for women suffering from chronic back pain.
Ayurvedic Back Massage
Ayurvedic back massage is a unique technique that can help to relieve back pain in all cases even with different underlying causes. It relieves back pain by improving local blood circulation, relaxing muscles, and reducing back fatigue. It also helps in stress reduction, so it can also be helpful in women having excess stress associated with back pain. It is the most effective remedy in case back pain is due to excessive stress on the back.
In addition, ayurvedic massage increases blood circulation, which improves the menstrual flow. It diminishes cramps, back pain and stress during menstruation. According to ayurveda, vitiated Vata Dosha is the cause of pain in lower back. There are several unique ayurvedic oils used in ayurvedic massage, which help to pacify vitiated Vata and reduce pain.
Regular Exercise
Full body exercise can help to reduce lower back pain. It helps to increase the flexibility of back and provides strength to the muscles. It also helps to maintain a healthy weight. It lowers inflammation, diminishes pain, reduces weakness in the back and improves posture. The exercise is an effective solution in almost all cases associated with back pain. It improves menstrual flow, so it reduces symptoms associated with menstrual period and dysmenorrhea including lower back pain. Even in endometriosis, it also acts as an effective pain reliever. Consider improving the following things:
- Learn how to lift heavy objects without hurting your back.
- Introduce yoga to your exercise schedule.
- Start walking at least 15 minutes a day. Avoid sitting too much for a longer period.
- Do tougher workouts with small intervals of rests. Intermediate rest can help to reduce wear and tear of back muscles and improves recovery.
The treatment of lower back pain should be according to the underlying cause of the problem. In some cases, some herbs may not be suitable depending on your body type and several other factors. Some diseases including subserosal fibroids and pelvic inflammatory diseases require a different treatment and home remedies don’t provide much relief. For discussing the cause of back pain and get the most appropriate treatment for lower back pain, you should consult Dr. Pooja Saini. She can help you to choose the most suitable and effective herbs for your back pain according to your health condition, Dosha involvement and unique body type.
References
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- Triolo, Onofrio, Antonio Simone Laganà, and Emanuele Sturlese. “Chronic Pelvic Pain in Endometriosis: An Overview.” Journal of Clinical Medicine Research 5.3 (2013): 153–163. PMC. Web. 18 June 2018. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3651065/)
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