Common warning signs of a herniated disc
Following are some of the most common symptoms of a herniated disc: Radiating pain in your arms or legs. Loss of reflexes or weakness in your arms or legs. Numbness or abnormal tingling sensations in your arms or legs.
Herniated discs are often misdiagnosed as piriformis syndrome, a muscular disorder in the buttocks, mild sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and osteoarthritis.
MRI. Radio waves and a strong magnetic field are used to create images of the body's internal structures. This test can be used to confirm the location of the herniated disk and to see which nerves are affected.
People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves. Weakness. Muscles served by the affected nerves tend to weaken. This can cause you to stumble, or affect your ability to lift or hold items.
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.
Discs that become herniated usually are in an early stage of degeneration. The spinal canal has limited space, which is inadequate for the spinal nerve and the displaced herniated disc fragment. Due to this displacement, the disc presses on spinal nerves, often producing pain, which may be severe.
A pinched nerve may cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs. The substance that makes up the disc's jelly-like core can also inflame and irritate the nerve, causing additional pain. A bulging disc occurs when the outer wall of the disc weakens but doesn't rupture, and “bulges” outward.
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.
Muscle pain will feel like post-workout soreness, while disc pain will feel debilitating and tingly. It is helpful to know the difference before you see your doctor so you can accurately describe the pain to them.
Bulging and Herniated Discs Explained
"A bulging disc is like letting air out of a car tire. The disc sags and looks like it is bulging outward. With a herniated disc, the outer covering of the disc has a hole or tear. This causes the nucleus pulposus (jelly-like center of the disc) to leak into the spinal canal."
According to Spine Universe, chiropractic care is a non-surgical option for herniated disc treatment. This makes choosing a chiropractor to address problems with a herniated disc a viable option if you want to avoid undergoing any surgical procedures.
If a slipped disc is suspected, the physician will usually order imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis. Diagnostic tests may include: Computerized tomography (CT) is a noninvasive procedure that uses x-rays to produce a three-dimensional image of the spine.
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.
While a standard X-ray can't show if you have a herniated disk, it can show your doctor the outline of your spine and rule out whether your pain is caused by something else, such as a fracture or tumor. Myelogram.
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.
Daily walks are an excellent way to exercise with a herniated disc, without putting additional strain on your spine and causing painful symptoms to flare up.
It's possible for you to have a ruptured disc without knowing it, but it's more likely a herniated disc will produce some or possibly all of the following symptoms: Tingling in your lower back. Burning in one or both buttocks. Numbness on one side of your body.
Narcotics such as codeine or oxycodone-acetaminophen (Percocet) are also short-term options that your doctor may prescribe if over-the-counter meds don't work. Your doctor might also prescribe muscle relaxants to ease muscle spasms in your back.
How Long Do Lower Back Herniated Discs Usually Take to Heal? “Most acute pain from a herniated disc in the lower back will subside after four to six weeks, but pain can come and go and persist over several months,” says Dr. Mukai. To avoid flare-ups of pain, Dr.
In general, a flare-up can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
Herniated spinal discs are fairly common. Fortunately, surgery is not typically required for a herniated disc. In fact, only about 10 percent of herniated disc patients end up needing surgery, according to research cited by Harvard Health.