How To Fix Bulging Discs In Lower Back

Bulging Disc Treatments: 7 Ways To Find Natural Relief From Back Pain

A bulging disc is a very common occurrence that results in a spinal disc compressing against an adjacent nerve root. The disc essentially pushes out of its normal place and starts impinging on nearby nerves of the spine, sometimes causing pain. For some people, bulging discs can cause a good deal of discomfort, at times progressing enough that they can become disabling and affect someones quality of life greatly.

There are different severities of bulging or herniated discs some that are more problematic than others. Not everyone with a bulging disc experiences pain or even any noticeable symptoms at all, although many do. In fact, its now understood that many people with bulging herniated discs function without any pain at all and arent even aware of the problem.

Studies show that bulging discs are common more than 50 out of 100 older people examined using magnetic resonance imaging have some degree of a bulging disc but the underlying causes arent well-understood, which makes appropriate treatment difficult.

If youve visited a doctor about a painful bulging disc, you might have been given medications, such as over-the-counter painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers or steroids to help control your symptoms. While these might work in the short term to keep you more comfortable, they wont target the underlying cause of the bulging disc or prevent another one from forming.

1. See a Chiropractor for Spinal Adjustments

2. Visit a Physical Therapist

Usa Spine Cares Approach To Bulging Disc Surgery

At USA Spine Care, we offer both minimally invasive decompression surgery and minimally invasive stabilization surgery, having helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from painful symptoms caused by bulging discs and other degenerative spine conditions. Compared to traditional open spine surgery, our minimally invasive outpatient approach to bulging disc surgery offers a number of potential advantages, including:

• Smaller incisions
• A muscle-sparing approach
• A lower risk of infection and other surgical complications^
• A faster recovery
• A 98 percent patient satisfaction^ score
• A 98 out of 100 percent patient recommendation^ score

When & How To Seek Medical Care

Fortunately, the majority of herniated discs do not require surgery. With time, the symptoms of sciatica/radiculopathy improve in approximately 9 out of 10 people. The time to improve varies, ranging from a few days to a few weeks.

General Guidelines

• Limit activities for 2 to 3 days. Walking as tolerated is encouraged, along with an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, if not contraindicated for the patient. Bedrest is not recommended.
• Primary care evaluation during this time may lead to considering other non-surgical treatments noted below, such as physical therapy.
• Radiographic imaging, such as an MRI, is not recommended by the American College of Radiology, unless symptoms have been present for six weeks.
• Referral to a spine specialist, such as a neurosurgeon, is also recommended if symptoms persist for greater than four weeks. A specialist will often want advanced imaging, such as the MRI, completed prior to the appointment.
• Urgent evaluation and imaging is recommended if there are symptoms of significant leg/arm weakness, loss of feeling in the genital/rectal region, no control of urine or stool, a history of metastatic cancer, significant recent infection or fever AND radiculopathy or a fall/injury that caused the pain. Imaging should also be considered earlier for findings of progressive neurologic deficit on exam.

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Herniated Disc Exercise : Reduce The Radiating Leg Pain

The first thing you have to do is to try to reduce the radiating pain. You can do this by stretching your back backward as far as possible. It is called extending your back.

You can do this in two ways: While standing or while lying in a prone position. Ill discuss the one in when you stand because thats the easiest one for most people.

It will instantly relieve your leg pain.

Perform the exercise like this:

• Place your index fingers on the painful spot in your back
• Apply pressure in a forward direction
• Now bend all the way backward
• Make sure also to extend your neck for maximum result
• Hold this position for 3 seconds
• Repeat this ten times

You can also see how to perform the exercise in the video.

Make sure that you perform this exercise several times a day. Its especially important to complete the activity every time youve to bend forward or lifted something.

When youve performed the exercise, you will notice that the radiation in your leg reduces and sometimes even totally disappears.

It is what you want to achieve.

When you feel the radiation coming back into your leg, its time to do the exercise again. You want to keep the radiation away so that the intervertebral disc has time to recover.

You can also use this back stretcher to reduce the pressure on your nerves. It does the same as the exercise but it easier to do for some people.

How To Decide If The Time Is Right For Bulging Disc Surgery

Any type of surgery is a big step, and the decision to move forward is best made with the guidance of at least one trusted surgeon . For general educational purposes, USA Spine Care offers the following examples of situations in which surgical bulging disc treatment may be an appropriate next step to consider:

• Several months of nonsurgical treatment, such as lifestyle changes, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , heat and ice applications and physical therapy have not produced meaningful symptom relief.
• Unmanageable pain or progressive leg muscle weakness is interfering with daily activities.
• Balance or coordination issues are causing walking difficulties and limiting mobility.
• A rare neurological complication known as cauda equina syndrome, which can cause bladder and bowel incontinence, has developed .

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Secret #: Get A Chiropractic Massage

If you are in pain because of a bulging or herniated disc, a massage might not sound so terrific, but the truth is that a chiropractic massage, which is done under the supervision of your chiropractor, might be just what the doctor ordered, so to speak.

Your chiropractor will direct the massage therapist to problem areas, which areas should be avoided, as well as offer advice as to what type of massage might work best for your condition. Massage will reduce painful muscle spasms while promoting healing through improved circulation.

Studies show that those with chronic low back pain are greatly reduced with regular massage.

Chiropractic massage can go a long way towards reducing pain while stimulating healing. This is a safe and effective treatment that offers substantial pain relief without drugs.

Schedule an Appointment and Receive

Check Out This Video About Herniated Discs From Our Chiropractor Dr Oliver:

Other herniated disk treatment options include:

Rest often a couple of days of rest will help to calm severe pain caused by lumbar disc herniation. However, its important that you dont rest for longer than this as it can actually worsen pain and stiffness.

Anti-inflammatory medications medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen may help to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Physical therapy performing specific exercises to increase range of motion and strengthen muscles in your lower back and core may help to relieve pain and reduce your chance of re-injuring yourself.Spinal manipulation manipulation of the joints of the lower back may help to improve range of motion and decrease pain.

Massage therapy may help to increase blood circulation and relax muscles thereby helping to reduce pain.Epidural steroid injections injection of corticosteroids into the affected area may help to reduce local inflammation and relieve pain.

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What Causes A Bulging Disc

When a bulging disc, disc herniation or disc rupture occurs, it is typically due to either:

• a pre-existing weakness in the annulus, or
• a sudden increase in pressure through the disc, causing fibres of the annulus to tear.

You can group the causes of a spinal disc injury under three headings:

1. Accumulated Microtrauma

Repeated microtrauma over an extended period can lead to disc injury. The best example of accumulated micro trauma is poor posture.

Poor posture when sitting, standing and working, stresses your spine. Sustaining a slouching or forward bending of your spine leads to overstretching and weakness of the spinal discs posterior fibrocartilage . Over time, this leads to inadequate disc integrity and displacement of the disc nucleus fluid posteriorly. This displacement places your spinal joints and nerves under pain-causing pressure.

Your aim to continually maintain a good position includes regular postural change.

During your initial efforts to retrain a good posture, low muscle endurance and posture awareness predisposes you to sag back into your old habits. In these instances, it is useful to note that supportive posture devices such as a lumbar roll, Basset spine support, kinesio taping or a back brace are available to help you maintain a lordotic curve to your lumbar spine during this transition phase.

It would be best to regularly alter any sustained posture to allow your spine to move and remain healthy.

2. Sudden Unexpected Load

3. Genetic Factors

Physical Therapy For A Bulging Disc In The Lower Back

Unfortunately, degenerated discs heal quite slowly. However, pain and inflammation from these disks do not often require surgery and can be treated through strengthening the surrounding musculature, giving the disc more support, says the SCSC.

These exercises should be prescribed to you by your medical professional such as a physical therapist. They will be designed to bring the disc back into its standard placement, sort of like a vacuum suction to relieve pressured nerves and relieve pain.

However, if physical therapy exercises don’t work to reduce your pain, surgery might be an answer for herniation. A February 2019 article published in Medicine concluded that surgery could be a better option for reducing pain then continuing with physical therapy for a bulging disc in the lower back over the long-term. Discuss your options with your health care provider to see which options are right for you.

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Treatment For Bulging Disc: How Do You Fix A Bulging Disc

There are different forms of treatment for a bulging disc, both surgical and nonsurgical. As the majority of cases dont need surgery, its important to be aware of the different nonsurgical treatment options available, from exercise and physical therapy to chiropractic care.

A bulging disc occurs when it changes shape and bulges outwards into the space within the spinal canal. Without their own vascular supply, its difficult to reverse disc damage once it has occurred treatment can work towards improving disc function and preventing further deterioration.

Before moving on to the main topic of treatment for bulging discs, lets briefly discuss the structure and role of the intervertebral discs.

Exercise : Cobra Pose

Why its beneficial: Prone on Elbows Cobra pose

Important: Cobra Pose is an advanced version of prone on elbows. If you cannot perform prone on elbows, do not advance to this exercise.

Steps

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When Is A Professional Opinion Recommended For Bulging Disc

1. Loss of Bladder or Bowel Function. There are some bulging disc cases where professional care is essential. In some cases, such as when you lose bowel or bladder control, it is deemed an emergency, and you may require immediate surgery. These bulges usually are very significant and affect your nerve control involving your bladder or bowels. It would be best if you went straight to your nearest emergency department in these instances.

2. Weakness in your limb muscles is a significant concern. If you experience arm, hand, leg or foot weakness, please seek prompt medical assessment.

3. The reduced or altered sensation is your next priority. Mild disc bulges can reduce your ability to feel things touching you, e.g. numbness or pins and needles. If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should seek professional assistance.

4. Referred Pain. Pain in your limbs, e.g. legs or arms , is usually a more significant injury than when experiencing only spinal pain. We recommend that you seek the professional advice of your trusted spinal care practitioner.

5. Spinal Pain. Interestingly, if you are only experiencing spinal pain, bulging discs are generally mild injuries and are most likely to be rehabilitated quickly. Please adhere to low disc pressure postures and exercise accordingly. If in doubt, please seek professional advice.

What Is A Herniated Disc

Your lower back consists of 5 vertebrae. We call them lumbar 1-5. Between these vertebrae lies a discus or intervertebral disc. It results in a lumbar disc between L1-L2 to L5-S1, which is the last lumbar intervertebral disc.

So lets start with the anatomy of your lower back.

The intervertebral disc consist of 2 parts:

• The nucleus pulposus

The nucleus pulposus is the inner layer, and the annulus fibrosis is the outer layer.

The nucleus pulposus is a gel-like substance that can move freely within the annulus fibrosus.

The annulus fibrosus is the hard outer layer of the intervertebral disc.

Due to different reasons, sometimes the annulus fibrosus weakens. When this happens, the nucleus pulposus starts to push the annulus fibrosis into the vertebral canal.

When this happens, we speak of a bulging disc or disc protrusion. It is a pre-stage of a herniated disc.

When you dont treat it the right way, the outer layer of the intervertebral disc can rupture completely. It results in a herniated disc.

Now it enters the intervertebral foramen. These are the holes you can see in the picture. It results in compression of the nerve leaving the back on that level. The nerve runs through the intervertebral foramen.

It can also cause an inflammatory reaction. The inflammatory response happens because the nucleus pulposus never comes in contact with other parts of your body and is considered an intruder.

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How To Fix Right Side Lower Back Pain

How To Fix Right Side Lower Back Pain 714-502-4243 Costa Mesa CA

#deadlifting #deadlift #lowbackpain

Low back pain is common from deadlifting, but it is more often than not from your form and speed. Watch this video to get some easy tips of how to fix lower back pain from deadlifting form.

Low back herniations, or lumbar herniations, are a very common injury we fix at Performance Place. These injuries tend to follow similar patterns, and so we have decided to share two of the most common things that can help alleviate disc pain instantly.

Doctors Dawne and Sebastian spend some time talking about whether you can fix a disc or not, and what part MRI and imaging has to play in your recovery. They demonstrate a breathing position and technique that corresponds with a position of relief for the low back, which can help immediately. They also demonstrate low back extension and its importance in relieving pain associated with low back disc hernations. Get your here!

For other helpful videos:

Is Walking Good for a Disc Herniation?

Can a Herniated Disc Fix Itself?

Can a Chiropractor Help You Fix a Disc Herniation?

What is a Disc Herniation?

How long will my care be at a Chiropractic Clinic? Every chiropractic clinic is different but our chiropractor in Huntington Beach have been known for providing short treatment plans and keeping Huntington Beachs active community moving with minimal downtime.

Can A Herniated Disc Heal On Its Own

A herniated disc doesnt actually heal on its own, but the pain does become less intense and can even go away entirely as the nerve becomes less irritated.

However, it will mean weeks and possibly even months of some fairly intense episodes of pain.

Your own immune response will treat the material that protrudes out of the disc as a foreign object and send an immediate response, usually inflammation, which is very painful. The water from inside the disc will be absorbed by the body and the disc will shrink in size.

Not only is this process lengthy, but it is painful as well. Chances are that you will never recover your full range of movement and your risk for developing another bulging or herniated disc is quite high since you did not take steps to prevent a reoccurrence.

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Treatment For Disc Problems

• heat treatment
• gradually increasing activity levels within pain limits
• an exercise program designed to improve strength, flexibility and fitness
• a short-term trial of massage, spinal mobilisation or manual therapy
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids
• pain-relieving medications, such as paracetamol.

Sciatica pain may be treated with an injection of anti-inflammatory steroids into the area of the affected spinal nerve. In severe cases of sciatica caused by a large disc protrusion, pain may be relieved by surgery to trim the protruding disc. This may be done to relieve pressure on the affected spinal nerve.

In severe cases of degenerative disc disease, surgery may be considered to remove the disc and fuse together the two vertebrae on either side.

However, severe cases of both sciatica and degenerative disc disease are uncommon.

Remember, most disc problems resolve without specific treatment.

Diagnosis Of Disc Problems

• taking a medical history to:
• determine predisposing risk factors and conditions
• identify any associated spinal nerve involvement

Investigations are carried out if:

• symptoms persist for more than six weeks despite remaining active, or
• there is concern the disc is affecting a spinal nerve.

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