Ways to Manage Herniated Disc Pain Wearing flat or low-heeled shoes to relieve pressure on your spine. Carrying weighty objects close to your body. Keeping your back straight and bending with your knees and hips when lifting an object, as opposed to bending over and lifting.
Bulges can put pressure on the surrounding nerve roots, leading to pain that radiates down the back and other areas of the body depending on its location within the spinal column. If the symptoms are severe enough and have become chronic, surgery for a bulging disc may be required.
For up to 90% of people, herniated disk pain gets better on its own or with simple medical care. You'll probably feel better within a month. If you don't, you should see your healthcare provider. Some people need more aggressive medical measures, such as spinal injections or surgery.
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).
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.
Rest. Most often 1-2 days of strict bed rest will calm severe back pain. Bed rest should not exceed 48 hours. Once you are back into your daily routine, you should take frequent rest breaks throughout the day- but avoid sitting for long periods of time.
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.
A herniated disk is a condition that can occur anywhere along the spine, but most often occurs in the lower back. It is sometimes called a bulging, protruding, or ruptured disk. It is one of the most common causes of lower back pain, as well as leg pain, or sciatica.
Chiropractic is a preferred treatment option for many people with bulging and herniated discs because it is a non-invasive process and does not require drugs or injections. Once you have reached your diagnosis, you and your chiropractor can work hand in hand to look for the best way to treat your condition.
In addition to natural wear and tear, other factors that can contribute to a bulging disc include repetitive movements, strenuous lifting, twisting of the body, bone spurs pushing against the disc, and many other degenerative conditions.
Avoid Sitting Too Much
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.
With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs. A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis.
The optimal sleeping position for a herniated disc is on your back. Lying on your back keeps your spine in a neutral position so you have less chance of pinching the nerve. For added comfort, nestle a small pillow or rolled-up towel under your knees and lower back.
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.
Sitting is not really the preferred position when you have a herniated lumbar disc. Most physical therapists will recommend standing up, moving around or lying down over sitting.
Herniated discs can cause debilitating pain that radiates down the legs. Due to the severity of the severity of the pain, your mobility can be impacted and you may not be able to stand or sit in the same position for long periods. The numbness and tingling can impact your ability to function as well.
Herniated disks are also called ruptured disks or slipped disks, although the whole disk does not rupture or slip. Only the small area of the crack is affected. Compared with a bulging disk, a herniated disk is more likely to cause pain because it generally protrudes farther and is more likely to irritate nerve roots.
Patient improvement will vary. Depending on which disc is bulging and the severity of symptoms, it can take 6-12 weeks to get better. Fortunately, many patients feel a difference within the first 2 weeks of Chiropractic care.
Massage therapy can offer relief of bulging disc by treating the condition at its roots. Very often, imbalances in the skeletal structure, such as being “stuck” in a side-tilted position, may predispose one toward this injury, and/or result from it.
Signs Your Herniated Disc is Healing
However, the first symptom that will reveal that you are on the way to healing is that the sharp, shooting pain in your legs or arms will go away, followed by some muscle weakness in that nerve path. However, if you have numbness, it might take longer to heal.
Bulging discs are confirmed with an MRI and usually measured in millimeters. A small bulge may be considered 1-3 millimeters, whereas anything over 4 millimeters is considered moderate. A bulge of 7 millimeters +, is considered severe.
A herniated disk in your lower spine may "pinch" a nerve root, causing pain that radiates down the back of your leg (sciatica).