The best way to tell if you have a herniated disk is to see your doctor. They'll likely do a physical exam to find the source of your pain. This usually is the only test you'll need to confirm a diagnosis. Your doctor will check your back for sore or painful spots.
Patients who complain of experiencing symptoms related to herniated discs are often advised to get an MRI scan done first. MRI scan is the best non-invasive test available to find herniated and bulging discs and annular tears.
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.
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.
Imaging tests
Plain X-rays don't detect herniated disks, but they can rule out other causes of back pain, such as an infection, tumor, spinal alignment issues or a broken bone. CT scan.
Herniated discs are often misdiagnosed as piriformis syndrome, a muscular disorder in the buttocks, mild sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and osteoarthritis.
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.
Bulging discs can be treated by physiotherapy through a few different techniques. What happens in your appointment: In your first appointment, your physiotherapist will assess your body, your movement and your pain. Information and education to understand your bulging disc through scans/x-rays (if you have one).
How does Physiotherapy help with bulged discs? Physiotherapy can be very effective in relieving the pain and other symptoms associated with herniated discs. Techniques such as neural gliding, joint mobilisation and dry needling are all known to be effective in treating this condition.
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.
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.
Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward may make the pain worse. The pain gets worse when you make these movements because there is more pressure on the nerve. People with painful herniated discs often try to change positions to reduce the pain.
A bulging disk can push against the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to severe pain and problems with mobility. Treatment may include a combination of medication, physical therapy, and self-care. In severe cases, a person may need surgery.
Is the CT scan better than the MRI for diagnosing an herniated disc? – No. The MRI is best for evaluating the soft tissue in the spine and neck and is therefore the best way to find the slipped disk. Usually the MRI will not be done unless you have had symptoms for several weeks.
Your doctor might recommend surgery as an option for your herniated disc if: Your symptoms have lasted at least 6 weeks and make it hard to do your normal activities, and other treatments haven't helped. You need to get better quickly because of your job or to get back to your other activities as soon as possible.
Treatment with rest, pain medication, spinal injections, and physical therapy is the first step to recovery. Most people improve in 6 weeks and return to normal activity. If symptoms continue, surgery may be recommended.
Deep Tissue Massage: There are more than 100 types of massage, but deep tissue massage is an ideal option if you have a herniated disc because it uses a great deal of pressure to relieve deep muscle tension and spasms, which develop to prevent muscle motion at the affected area.
Most (80-90%) cases involving bulging or herniated discs will heal within 2-4 months, depending on the severity of the injury, as well as your age and overall health.
Non-surgical treatments can include physical therapy or bracing to try and gradually ease the bulging disc back into its rightful place. When these conservative options fail, and there is still a lot of pain, a minimally invasive surgical procedure can be used to correct the bulging disc.
The chiropractor will use light movements to move the bulging or herniated disc from the nerves. It can help return the protruding disc back into its original position in the spine. The movements also promote fluid circulation to keep the intervertebral disc healthy.
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).
Once determined, vertebral and pelvic malalignment caused by the protruding disc must be treated so that the exercises to reposition the disc can be maximally effective. This is most effectively done with a chiropractic adjustment.
Generally speaking—as long as they're performed correctly—core and back exercises are beneficial for bulging discs, as are activities like walking, elliptical exercise, swimming, and riding a stationary or regular bike.
If your herniated disc pain comes and goes, there's a good chance it's related to your activity. If you use your back for lifting or bending on a regular basis, you may find your pain is a lot worse immediately afterward. Even something as simple as sleeping in a specific position could cause symptoms to flare.
L3 or L4 symptoms include pain in lower back and /or pain that radiates to the quadriceps in the front of the thigh. L5 symptoms include pain in lower back and/or pain in the outside of lower leg, down to toes, which may include numbness, weakness and tingling.