Lumbar spondylosis is a disease that affects the lower part of your spine. Pain in the lower back that slowly moves into the buttocks and the legs are the most common signs.

It occurs due to the wear and tear of your vertebrae, the small bones that make your spine. Your risk of the disease increases with age. 

The wear and tear of the vertebrae in your lower back can put pressure on the spinal nerves that supply the lower part of your body. It results in pain in the area supplied by the nerves.

If the condition is mild, you can control it with painkillers and physical exercises. But in some, the pain can be a real problem that can affect routine life. In such situations, one will need medical or surgical treatment. Reshaping the disc by spine surgery to reduce the pressure on the nerves is one option. But it has a few drawbacks as well.

Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, is a good option for those who do not want a spine surgery. It offers various treatments that help to control the disease. You will have treatment for about two to three weeks, depending on your condition.

You will have lumbar spondylosis due to the degeneration of the vertebrae in the lower part or lumbar area of the spine. Degeneration of the vertebrae happens due to natural and age-related wear and tear. 

Vertebrae lie on top of the other from the neck to the lower back to make your spine. Your spinal cord passes through a hole in the middle of these vertebrae. As the spinal cord moves down from the brain, it gives out small branches called the spinal nerve. These nerves exit through small holes in the sides of the vertebrae.

In between the vertebrae are small cushions called intervertebral discs. They prevent the bones from rubbing against each other. 

As you age, a few changes happen in the vertebrae and the discs due to wear and tear. There will be injuries to the cartilages on the surface of the vertebrae. It causes friction and inflammation on the joints. Also, bone spurs, which are sharp bony growths, can put pressure on the nerves. There will be damage to the discs, which can trap the nerves in it as well.

All these together can give you severe pain in the back. You will also have muscle spasms along with pain. As the pressure on the nerves become more, you will feel pain in the areas supplied by the nerve.

As said, lumbar spondylosis occurs due to wear and tear of the vertebrae. It is a part of the natural aging process that happens all over your body. 

There are a few things that can slightly increase your chances of getting it.

They include

Your age - Your risk will increase as you grow older

The nature of your work- If you need to carry heavy weights as part of your work, you are more at risk. Those sitting in front of computers or doing other office work in an improper sitting posture are also at risk.

Previous injury to the spine- Those with a history of spine injuries may be more at risk 

The strength of your bones- If you have osteoporosis, the risk is more.

 

Apart from these, many other things also make you prone to spine injuries. Smoking, abnormal sleeping postures, workouts using weights, etc. are some of them.

Most of the symptoms of lumbar spondylosis are almost the same as that of all low back pains. These include

Pain in the lower back which slowly moves on to the buttocks and legs

Numbness in the lower back and legs

A weakness of the legs 

Difficulty or pain when you bend

Pain while standing or walking

 

It is difficult to detect lumbar spondylosis by symptoms alone. You will need to have a few tests to confirm it.

If your doctor suspects lumbar spondylosis, you will have a few tests. These include

X-rays of the lower spine to see the condition of the vertebrae 

CT and MRI scans to look into the extent of damage to the discs

 

The tests will help the doctor to decide the type of treatment you will have.

According to Ayurveda, lumbar spondylosis is the same as 'Kati Vata.' The pain that you feel is 'Kati Shula' or 'Prishta Shula'.

According to Ayurveda, your body consists of three humors or doshas, namely the Vata, pitta, and Kapha. Vata dosha controls your blood circulation, body movements, and movement of air in the body. Pitta controls your digestion, and Kapha gives the structure as well as lubrication to your body. 

When you are healthy, all three doshas will be in a state of harmony and balance. Whenever there is an imbalance of these, you will have diseases or 'rogas.'

The most common reason for diseases is problems with digestion of the food you have. It leads to a build-up of toxins or 'ama' in your body. As these toxins pile up in your body, it slowly upsets the balance of the doshas. The affected dosha will depend on the type and levels of toxins in your body.

In lumbar spondylosis, it is the Vata dosha that goes out of control. It, in turn, leads to a change in the levels of the other two as well. 

Some other factors that can contribute to Vata imbalance include

Cold weather

Having more of cold and dry foods 

Heavy exercises or none at all

 

As you age, it is normal for the tissues in your body to show some changes. These changes also happen in the lumbar vertebrae. As the Vata dosha in your body increases, it will start acting on areas that are already weak.

Lumbar spondylosis or 'Kati Vata' occurs when the dosha starts acting on the vertebrae. Ayurvedic treatment for Lumbar spondylosis aims to bring the levels of the 'Vata' to normal limits and to restore the balance of doshas.

You will have various treatments that help to control the symptoms. These will help to reduce the swelling in your vertebrae and discs. It also makes your muscles more strong as well as rejuvenates the nerves in the area.

The main methods are

Rooksha Sweda  – Dry fomentation using herbal medicine with very less or no oil. It will reduce inflammatory changes happening in the body. It will make you sweat, which reduces the toxins accumulated in the joints and the periphery.

Kati vasti - It helps to improve the lubrication of the joints and discs. In this treatment, the therapists will make a small well in the lower back with a dough of black gram. They will then pour warm oil that contains ayurvedic medicines and keep it there for thirty to forty minutes.

Abhyanga - You will have massages all over your body during this using medicated oils. It helps to remove the stress and stiffness in the joints of your body. It also improves the blood circulation and tones up your muscles. It helps to reduce the pressure on your discs and to control pain.

Swedana - It aims to remove the toxins in the body by making you sweat. You will have hot fomentation on your lower back with the help of medicinal poultice. It helps to remove the stiffness in the area, which helps to reduce pain.

Lepanam - The doctor will apply medicinal pastes in your lower back to reduce the stiffness of the joints. It improves the blood flow and helps to heal the injuries to the nerves in the area.

Dhara - In this, the therapists will pour medicated oils on the lower back in a slow and steady rhythm. It stimulates the muscles and nerves, which helps to reduce pain and stiffness.

Vasti - It is a type of medicated enema that helps to remove the toxins in your body.

Virechanam – It is the induced purgation method. In certain cases, this will be an ideal choice to remove toxins from the body.

You will need treatment for about two to three weeks. After treatment, you will have to take medicines as prescribed for a few more weeks. Also, some may need treatment every year for three to four years

If your condition is mild, you will not need only mild pain killers to help you. If the symptoms are moderate, you will have to take narcotic pain killers, physical therapy, complete bed rest, etc.

Surgery is the option if the doctor feels that your condition is severe. You will have it if you are at risk of complications that can affect your life.

 

But a spine surgery also comes with its share of risks. Long term use of painkillers can damage your kidneys and liver.