Your GP will usually be able to tell if you have a slipped disc from your symptoms. You may also have a physical examination. Your GP might ask you to raise your arms or do simple leg exercises to find out where the slipped disc is.
Diagnosis and Tests
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): The most common and accurate imaging test for a suspected herniated disk is an MRI. X-rays: Getting X-rays helps rule out other causes of back or neck pain. Computed tomography (CT): A CT scan show the bones of your spine.
The most common imaging for this condition is MRI. Plain x-rays of the affected region are often added to complete the evaluation of the vertebra. Please note, a disc herniation cannot be seen on plain x-rays.
This is a nerve disorder wherein a herniated disc puts pressure on a nerve until there is persistent pain surrounding the nerve. This condition is a nerve problem, and hence visiting a neurologist will offer the perfect solution.
If you still have pain or numbness after 4 to 6 weeks, or if you feel worse, talk with your doctor. Sometimes it takes surgery to relieve pain. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: Trouble going to the bathroom.
A bulging disc may have no pain at all because it has not reached a certain severity level, and this can make it difficult to identify the bulging disc symptoms before the condition becomes more severe. Most commonly, bulging discs create pressure points on nearby nerves which create a variety of sensations.
The symptoms of lumbar disk disease vary depending on where the disk has herniated and what nerve root it is pushing on. These are the most common symptoms of lumbar disk disease: Intermittent or continuous back pain. This may be made worse by movement, coughing, sneezing, or standing for long periods of time.
Whether you have a disc protrusion or a herniated disc, your first visit should be to a chiropractor. Chiropractors specialize in non-invasive, drug-free treatment that focuses on the root of your pain and discomfort rather than simply masking the symptoms.
In the majority of cases, both a bulging and herniated disc will heal with only conservative (nonsurgical) treatment, especially if you take things a little easier. That doesn't mean that patients should become couch potatoes – that can actually make things worse and prolong recovery time.
Chiropractic is a preferred treatment method for many patients with bulging and herniated discs because it is non-invasive and does not involve drugs or injections. Once you have your diagnosis, you and your chiropractor can work together to find the best way to treat your condition.
Tumors of the spinal cord or near the sciatic or femoral plexus can cause neural compression and clinical signs similar to those of disc herniation. Such tumors are usually misdiagnosed as discal herniation and appropriate treatment is delayed.
Electromyogram. If you feel pain radiating into your arms or legs, or weakness, tingling, or numbness, an electromyogram (EMG) can reveal whether nerves are being pinched as a result of a herniated disc. An EMG measures the electrical impulses transmitted along nerves, nerve roots, and muscle tissue.
An L4-L5 disc bulge or slip-disc (slipped disc) pinches and leads to serious health issues, including impotence, reproduction issues, infertility, loss of bowel and bladder control, or paralysis in one or both legs.
The lower back is most commonly affected by herniated discs. Some common symptoms of a herniated or slipped disc include: Pain that occurs on one side of the body. Sharp pain in one part of the leg, hip, or buttocks and numbness in other parts.
Dr. Seth Neubardt, cervical spine surgical expert tells how the x-ray is used to check the bones in the neck but it cannot reveal a herniated disc. To see the disc you must obtain a CT scan or MRI.
If your herniated disk is in your lower back, besides pain in your lower back, you'll typically feel pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf. You might have pain in part of the foot as well. For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm.
The average amount of time it takes for a herniated disk to heal is four to six weeks, but it can get better within a few days depending on how severe the herniation was and where it occurred. The biggest factor in healing a herniated disk is time, because most often it will resolve on its own.
Most disc bulges resolve in 6-8 weeks, but it can take longer depending on the size of the bulge (i.e. if the bulge is hitting the nerve behind it like described above).
Sitting for long periods is not advised if you suffer from a herniated disc. It places more stress on your spinal discs, worsening the pain. You can maintain comfort by regularly moving around or standing up from your seat.
If you leave a herniated disc untreated, you may experience intense, sharp pains, partial paralysis, or the inability to control bowel movements in relatively dire situations.
You are not likely to be able to feel the disc itself, since it is located between the bones of your spine. However, you may be able to determine the affected area by touching various points along your back that you can reach.
Slouching And Your Spine
When we sit too long, many of us eventually slouch which can result in bulging discs from poor posture. Our heads tend to lean forward, and we have rounded shoulders speeding up wear and tear on spinal discs with neck pain becoming a daily problem.
Causes Of Bulging Disc
Body mechanics and poor posture that put stress on the spinal disc. Torsion of disc from repetitive work with a lot of bending, twisting or lifting. Sitting, standing driving or working for long periods of time. Sustaining back injury from a severe fall.
Walking isn't too strenuous, which is one reason it tends to be beneficial even with a bulging disc. At the same time, the motions involved still provide enough stimulation to strengthen the muscles that provide some degree of support to the spine.