……..Oooch my back hurts Mom
There is a myth that we don’t get back pain till we grow and most of us think it is a disease of tired bone. In contrast kids and teenagers do get back pain. Many studies had shown that nearly half percentage of school going children are prone to have a sore back.
Because of the myth that back pain is very rare in children it is often over looked and labelled as growing pains. In fact, back pain in children needs even more careful evaluation and warrants examination by a specialist as chances of serious pathology is much more common in children than that in middle aged people.
Kids are least prone to put stresses on their back than the teenagers or adults and are less prone to Mechanical Back ache. On the other hand, teenagers who tend to be more aggressive in their activities, sports testing the limits of their bodies commonly get mechanical back symptoms.
What are the causes of back pain in kids and teenagers?
Developmental:
Spinal defects like minor defects in the vertebrae (spondylolysis), gross defects in some cases of spina bifida may cause back pain.
Mechanical:
Back pain caused by placing abnormal stress and strain on muscles of the vertebral column. The most common causes are poor posture, heavy school bags, poorly-designed seating, incorrect bending and lifting motions, exercises (not doing enough or over doing) and obesity.

Trauma or injury:
Often due to repetitive minor injuries like in sports or one major fall or accident.
Infection:
It is one of the causes in both kids and teenagers. Even though it is less common nowadays due to better nutrition, it is still a major problem. When the child is suffering from fever associated with sudden or repetitive back ache, swelling over the back, failure to thrive in kids, weakness in one or the other limbs suggest the possibility of infection in spine.
Tumours:
Any abnormal growing mass from the soft tissue, bone or nerves in the spinal column can cause back pain both in kids and teenagers.

Deformity:
Scoliosis and kyphosis are the 3 dimensional deformities of the spine. Unless they are gross they often get missed till late. This is because generally they are not associated with significant pain contrary to one’s expectations.
Miscellaneous:
Growing aches and pains are more common in teenagers than in kids and to be dealt accordingly.

Management:
If a child is suffering from back pain regularly appropriate management should be initiated. The threshold to investigate is much lower in kids as the chances of a serious pathology is higher in kids compared to the adults. But when pain seems to be due to mechanical reasons, attention to ergonomics in the school and avoidance of some sports etc are important. Now a days the problem is getting compounded due to obesity in children. Appropriate exercises to suit the individual child and swimming are always beneficial.
Red flag signs

 Patient under 20 years of age, more worrying under 4 yrs
 Symptoms persisting beyond 4 weeks
 Generally unwell, weight loss, failure to thrive
 Sudden pain & swelling on the back, with fever
 Night sweats
 Pain worse at night or over thoracic / whole spine
 Unsteady feet, numbness or pins / needle sensation of limbs
 New curvature/bends of the spine with pain
 Children on immuno suppression
 Trauma / injuries to back

WHY DO WE WRITE? DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

It may be because;
1. We can not resit writing,
2. We have nothing else to do,
3. We are passionately keen to express and interact,
4. We want to share our passions, urges, feelings, hobbies, interests, ideas etc and get endorsement; and come together/organize/serve some mission,
5. We want to overcome loneliness,
6. We want to project or promote ourselves; and get accolades and gratify our ego,
7. We need emotional solace,
8. We have business interest,
9. We have all these reasons in different proportions,
10. We have other reasons, which we don't know

Be that as it may; expressing and sharing; TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT and NAMASMARAN; has been most fulfilling; even though occasionally met with skepticism, hostility, humiliation and condemnation.

NAMASMARAN (JAP, JAAP, JIKRA, SUMIRAN, SIMARAN i.e. SELF RECOLLECTION) AND WE: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

1. A self realized person is one with NAMA, the source of universe.
2. Less enlightened ones; are throughout in the practice of NAMASMARAN.
3. Lesser enlightened ones; yearn to be in NAMASMARAN more intensely; and for longer time.
4. Still less enlightened ones; while practicing NAMASMARAN for
some time of the day; opt to; express NAMA through art, writing, speech and other activities of propagating NAMASMARAN.
5. Still lesser enlightened ones; practice NAMASMARAN; for personal gains.
6. Still less enlightened ones; do "acting" or "show" of NAMASMARAN.
7. Least enlightened ones; do not practice; and are ignorant, and/or neutral about NAMASMARAN.
8. Those in total darkness of fanaticism; despise and/or condemn NAMASMARAN; and everything conducive to it.

But NAMA takes care of everybody; in appropriate manner.

Is there any truth in the vision and dreams depicted in religious, philosophical and creative literature, poetry and movies and the sermons on ethics, nonviolence and obedience; given in schools, colleges and elsewhere?

Is holistic renaissance a utopia of some unusually sensitive people?

The present APPARENT scenario of the ind
iscriminate, malevolent, malicious and vicious violence and crimes; creates doubt about everything noble and divine!

But the divinity is hidden deep within masked by hype and our superficial perceptions. We can experience this blissful and victorious reality of holistic renaissance; through NAMASMARAN (JAAP, JAP, JIKRA, SIMARAN, SUMIRAN i.e. reorienting to our true self).

न्याय, शांतता, सम्यक उत्थान; वगैरे बाबी अती हळव्या लोकांचे स्वप्नरन्जन आहे का?

आपण नामस्मरणाच्या द्वारे ह्रुदयन्गम असे सम्यक उत्थान अनुभवू शकतो.

Q. Why should we start our day, and our work with God's name?

A. God's name is actually the other word for the governing principle of the whole universe and everything in it.

When we remember the name of God, there is a greater chance of our petty selfish thinking and motivations; getting freed to become universally benevolent.

This blossoms
out entire being and makes us the very source of eternal bliss.

ESSENCE IN HINDI

Q. कोई भी काम भगवान क़ा नाम लेके क्यो करे?
A. भगवान क़ा नाम विश्व का मूल, संचालक और केन्द्र हैl नाम लेनेसे हमारी सोच और भावना निजी, संकुचित और हीन स्वार्थ से मुक्त होकर विश्वहितकारी बननेकी संभावना बढ़ती हैl इससे अमृतानुभवी आनंद बढ़ता है और जीवन बहरता हैl