Numerous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture is beneficial to patients with neck pain, including disc herniations.
The researchers conclude that warm needle acupuncture is a highly effective tool in the treatment of lumbar disc herniations. Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers conclude that acupuncture is effective in treating post-operative pain following surgery for lumbar disc herniations.
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.
A bulging disc is reversible and repairable without surgery if you get treatments that target damaged tissues holistically. The best non-surgical treatment for a bulging disc is the NSD Therapy® method which incorporates a combination of chiropractic, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation.
If the C5 and C6 discs are bulging, they only cause pain about 50 percent of the time, but this condition can lead to a straightened neck; this leads to tension on the spine, known to cause numbness, pain, and tingling throughout the upper body.
Someone seeking traditional medical treatment for C5-C6 disc bulging is often looking to remedy the pain and discomfort disrupting their daily life. This treatment will likely involve being prescribed medication such as steroids for inflammation, injections, physical therapy, disc surgery, or spinal-fusion surgery.
Skip movements that involve significant axial loading on the lower back, such as squats and leg presses. Avoid toe-touches, sit-ups, and yoga poses that worsen the pain and lead to significant bending of the back.
The pain from a herniated disc usually is worse when you are active and gets better when you are resting. 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.
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.
Cervical Herniated Disc (Neck)
With this injury, the key to a good night's sleep is in the thickness of your pillow. Side Sleepers – Choose a slightly thicker pillow to keep your spine straight as you lay on your side. Your head should be kept level with the rest of your spine for the best relief.
Massage is usually part of the physical therapy for a cervical herniated disc, but patients also obtain this treatment as a stand alone method of reducing pain. Massage may be effective in making patients feel better but there is a low likelihood that it will have a direct effect on the herniated disc itself.
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.
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.
Surgery is a last resort to treat a herniated disc when manual therapy and IDD Therapy have not brought about change. When the pain is so severe and unresolved, or if the nerve pain is causing weakness in the leg, then surgery can be carried out to remove the part of the disc pushing on the nerve.
If the pain does not subside within a few weeks or worsens, surgery may be necessary. If you continue to experience numbness, weakness, have difficulty standing or walking or have loss of bladder control, you may be a candidate for spinal surgery for your disc herniation.
Therefore if you have an onset of back pain, even if you do have a disc bulge or prior history of one, it may be caused by something else and not the disc. Is it permanent? Disc bulges are not permanent. The disc is a fluid filled structure and therefore has the capacity to heal, resolve and be re-absorbed.
Trauma: A sudden impact or injury to the neck can cause a bulging disc. This may occur from a car accident, sports injury, or fall. Genetics: Some people are born with a predisposition to developing bulging discs. Overuse: Repeatedly twisting and bending the neck can lead to a bulging disc.
There is a common belief that chiropractors will make your disc protrusion worse. Nothing could be further from the truth! Common treatments for disc injuries involve bed rest, pain relievers, steroid injections, intense physical therapy, and 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).
C5-C6 (C6 nerve root): Pain, tingling, and/or numbness may be felt in the thumb side of the hand. Weakness may also be experienced in the biceps (muscles in the front of the upper arms) and wrist extensor muscles in the forearms.
What is the best sleeping position for neck pain? Two sleeping positions are easiest on the neck: on your side or on your back. If you sleep on your back, choose a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck, with a flatter pillow cushioning your head.
When a bulging or herniated disc occurs in the C5-C6 region, it can cause sharp pain that radiates from the neck to the shoulder, arms, hands, and fingers. It can also lead to muscle weakness, numbness, spasms, headaches, and neck stiffness. There may also be a cracking or popping sound when moving the neck.