Although this technology has been used by some surgeons for several years, it is considered experimental because of the lack of studies on its effectiveness and safety. Other treatments that have been tried include removing the center of the disc and removing all or part of the disc by using suction.
These treatments are not considered to be effective. Talk to your doctor before using complementary medicine to treat a herniated disc. Some people use complementary medicine along with standard or conventional care to treat leg and back pain caused by a herniated disc. Some examples are: footnote 6. Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.
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Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Lumbar Herniated Disc. Top of the page. Condition Overview Is this topic for you? What is a herniated disc?
What causes a herniated disc? A herniated disc may be caused by: Wear and tear of the disc. As you age, your discs dry out and aren't as flexible. Injury to the spine. This may cause tiny tears or cracks in the hard outer layer of the disc. When this happens, the thick gel inside the disc can be forced out through the tears or cracks in the outer layer of the disc.
This causes the disc to bulge or break open. What are the symptoms? If a herniated disc isn't pressing on a nerve, you may have a backache or no pain at all. How is a herniated disc diagnosed? How is it treated? Symptoms from a herniated disc usually get better in a few weeks or months. To help you recover: Rest if you have severe pain. Otherwise, stay active. Staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can weaken your muscles and make the problem worse.
Walking and other light activity may help. Try using a heating pad on a low or medium setting for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 or 3 hours. Try a warm shower in place of one session with the heating pad. You can also buy single-use heat wraps that last up to 8 hours. You can also try an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Do the exercises that your doctor or physical therapist suggests.
These will help keep your back muscles strong and prevent another injury. Ask your doctor about medicine to treat your symptoms. Medicine won't cure a herniated disc, but it may help with pain and swelling. Can a herniated disc be prevented?
To help keep your back healthy: Protect your back when you lift. For example, lift with your legs, not your back. Don't bend forward at the waist when you lift. Bend your knees, and squat. Use good posture. When you stand or walk, keep your shoulders back and down, your chin back, and your belly in.
This will help support your lower back. Get regular exercise. Stay at a healthy weight. This may reduce the load on your lower back. Don't smoke.
Smoking increases the risk of a disc injury. Frequently Asked Questions Learning about herniated disc: What is a herniated disc? What causes it? What increases my risk of having a herniated disc? When should I see a doctor? Being diagnosed: How is a herniated disc diagnosed? Getting treatment: How is it treated? What can I do to treat it at home? What kinds of pain medicine are used?
When is surgery needed? Should I have surgery? What other treatments can I try? Ongoing concerns: How can I prevent a herniated disc? What exercises can I do to prevent back problems? How do I lift properly to prevent a back injury? Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Your experiences with back pain may have a lot to do with your individual genetic makeup. And just as some people are prone to heightened pain — which may occur in people with conditions such as fibromyalgia — some people are at the opposite end of the spectrum and less prone to pain. Research has shown that the tendency to experience more or less back pain runs in families. For example, identical twins often have similar histories of back pain, says Dr.
This is the case even if they have completely different lives and experiences — for example, if one twin has a desk job and the other performs heavy labor in construction. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke recommends several strategies to help ease back pain when it flares up:. While back pain may be inevitable for many people, changing attitudes about the problem could be making it worse. In the past, people used to take back pain in stride and didn't generally seek medical help.
But that hasn't reduced the prevalence of pain or disability. In fact, disability from back pain has actually increased over time. In , a study ranked back pain as the sixth most burdensome condition in the United States. Where back pain was once viewed a nuisance to work through, today, back pain stops many people in their tracks.
Many doctors are encouraging a return to the past when it comes to managing back pain, with less emphasis on intervention and more on encouraging movement. Movement seems to be the stimulus to normalize pain responses in the nervous system. Studies on animals with spinal injuries show faster pain resolution among those forced to exercise than among those allowed to move less, says Dr. Surgery may be necessary for some back problems, such as conditions that are causing progressive nerve damage or that involve structural changes that need to be corrected, according to the NINDS.
So, if you're experiencing back pain caused by normal wear and tear, the message is that in most cases you don't need to stop your life and wait to heal. Move your body instead. Physical therapists can play a role in helping you gradually and safely increase your activity level, to desensitize your nervous system's response, so you can get back to your regular daily activities. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worth it!
I am blown away at the direct information that you have given concerning bulging disc. I will share your information with all my friends. My problem resulted due to an auto accident. Thank you! I do not even know the way I ended up right here, but I assumed this post was good. I am a military veteran. I have constant pain, especially in the middle of my spine.
Neither helps. Extremely informative! Thank you. That is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate info… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read article! Even coughing, sneezing, and sitting can aggravate your symptoms because they put pressure on the pinched nerves.
An activity that exerts tremendous pressure on your lower spinal discs is sitting. If you have a herniated or bulging disc, this increase in pressure within your disc may cause the bulge to become more pronounced, which may aggravate your lower back pain when you sit.
Non-surgical spinal decompression : You can rehabilitate the spine by using targeted traction to reshape the bulging or herniated discs. Hello sir, I am having l5-s1 disc bulge problem since 3 month, which is so painful for me. Can you help me so that i can get back in my normal life. I need help. Can you help me sir??? Hi You need to see your local chiro to find out the best treatment option for you. I cant advice you without assessing your spinal problems in person.
Good luck Daryl Ansell. Hi You need to see your local chiropractor for advice as to what treatment options you have. We cant advice you about what can be done without examining findings.
You need to get your spine checked out by your local chiro they should be able to answer that question for you. Good luck. As mentioned chiropractic adjustments are effective for disc bulged! Its always a surprise when I hear people think manipulation will make it worse. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Submit Comment. Book your spinal examination appointment online now So, what are spinal discs? What is a disc made of? Your spinal discs are made up of two parts as shown below. The hard outer layer is called the Annulus Fibrosis. It is a hard casing made up of rings of densely packed fibrocartilage in concentric layers like the layers of an onion. The inner core is called the Nucleus Pulposus. It is a jelly-like glycoprotein that can move within the disc like the soft centre of a chocolate.
What does a disc actually do? Book your spinal examination appointment online now What the difference between a bulging and herniated disc?
That said, there are a number of things that have been proven to cause bulging discs: Repetitive trauma such as poor posture , poor ergonomics or repetitive heavy work can lead to disc degeneration and a bulging disc.
These long-term injuries are often also associated with poor muscle strength, obesity and other factors such as smoking. An Injury caused by sudden forces or load on the disc such as a car accident or an awkward heavy lift. This sudden increase in pressure on the disc can cause damage and tears to the annulus. Spinal Degeneration. While some degeneration is a normal part of the aging process, poor spinal function and posture will dramatically speed up disc degeneration.
Book your spinal examination appointment online now Can you have a bulging disc without any symptoms? This proves beyond any doubt that you can have a bulging disc and not be aware of it at all.
If we find a bulging disc is the cause of your pain, then the best treatment is a combination of the following: specific low force techniques which improve spinal function without aggravating your disc active rest keep moving while avoiding aggravating activities ice therapy massage non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen when needed How do I look after a bulging disc?
Book your spinal examination appointment online now What should I avoid if I have a bulging disc? Whilst you are recovering from a disc injury you will need to avoid the following: sitting in soft chairs that put pressure on the low back any periods of long standing or sitting slouching or poor posture activities involving bending such as gardening housework or strenuous exercise.
Contact your local chiropractor and get a thorough examination of your spine immediately to find the actual cause of your pain start your specific treatment program and exercises as soon as possible If you think you may have a bulging disc contact our office today to find out how we can help you. Over to you Do you have a question about a bulging disc, or other spinal problems?
A Brinjikji , a P. Search for:. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by numbness and tingling in your leg or foot. You may experience cramping or muscle spasms in your back or leg. In addition to pain, you may have leg muscle weakness, or knee or ankle reflex loss. In severe cases, you may experience foot drop your foot flops when you walk or loss of bowel or bladder control.
If you experience extreme leg weakness or difficulty controlling bladder or bowel function, you should seek medical help immediately. Discs can bulge or herniate because of injury and improper lifting or can occur spontaneously. Aging plays an important role. As you get older, your discs dry out and become harder. The tough fibrous outer wall of the disc may weaken.
The gel-like nucleus may bulge or rupture through a tear in the disc wall, causing pain when it touches a nerve. Genetics, smoking, and a number of occupational and recreational activities may lead to early disc degeneration. Herniated discs are most common in people in their 30s and 40s, although middle aged and older people are slightly more at risk if they're involved in strenuous physical activity.
Lumbar disc herniation is one of the most common causes of lower back pain associated with leg pain, and occurs 15 times more often than cervical neck disc herniation. When you first experience pain, consult your family doctor.
Your doctor will take a complete medical history to understand your symptoms, any prior injuries or conditions, and determine if any lifestyle habits are causing the pain. Next a physical exam is performed to determine the source of the pain and test for any muscle weakness or numbness. Based on the results, you may be referred to a neurologist, orthopedist, or neurosurgeon for treatment.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI scan is a noninvasive test that uses a magnetic field and radiofrequency waves to give a detailed view of the soft tissues of your spine. Unlike an X-ray, nerves and discs are clearly visible Fig. It may or may not be performed with a dye contrast agent injected into your bloodstream.
An MRI can detect which disc is damaged and if there is any nerve compression. It can also detect bony overgrowth, spinal cord tumors, or abscesses. Myelogram is a specialized X-ray where dye is injected into the spinal canal through a spinal tap. An X-ray fluoroscope then records the images formed by the dye. The dye used in a myelogram shows up white on the X-ray, allowing the doctor to view the spinal cord and canal in detail.
Myelograms can show a nerve being pinched by a herniated disc, bony overgrowth, spinal cord tumors, and abscesses.
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