What Does A Herniated Disc Feel Like In Lower Back

Treatment For Disc Problems

Most disc problems will resolve with time, regardless of treatment, just like soft tissue sprains in other parts of the body. Short-term bed rest for a few days may help in the initial management of severe sciatica. However, most people can stay active, with some restrictions, according to their level of pain. Appropriate pain relief and allowing the person to stay active within their pain limits is usually the best approach.

Some treatments used for pain relief include:

• 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.

Medication For The Pain

There are a number of different medications for the relief of sciatic nerve pain caused by a slipped disc. Most of these are painkillers, but you can also use muscle relaxants and . The following medications are the most commonly used. They are all available without a prescription when taken at a low dose:

Some of the medication options have to be prescribed by a doctor. These include:

Anticonvulsants and antidepressants are typically not used unless the symptoms last for a longer period of time or the painkillers don’t provide enough relief.

Herniated Disc In The Lower Back: Causes Symptoms And Treatment

A herniated disc in the lower back can be extremely painful. The disc may press on a nerve, causing pain to radiate down the leg. Treatment options for a herniated disc include rest, ice, heat, and pain medication. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the herniated disc. Standing up from a sitting position can help to relieve pressure on a herniated disc in the lower back. When you stand, the disc is no longer pressing on the nerve. This can help to reduce the pain. However, it is important to not stand for long periods of time. Standing for too long can actually make the pain worse. If you must stand for long periods of time, take breaks often to sit down and rest.

How gravating your back can cause a collapsed disc in your back. Within six weeks, symptoms usually clear up. It is critical not to place a heavy working load on your lower back because it can aggravate your herniated disc. The presence of an ergonomic office chair can assist you in reducing back pain and promoting good posture. Sitting causes more stress to your spinal discs than standing. Most people appear to slouch forward while sitting at their desks. Poor walking posture can make your spinal discs more inflamed. Sitting, lifting, and walking while paying attention to your posture can help you reduce your pain.

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Why Does The Lower Part Of My Spine Hurt

Most commonly, mechanical issues and soft-tissue injuries are the cause of low back pain. These injuries can include damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots, and improper movement of the spinal joints. The single most common cause of lower back pain is a torn or pulled muscle and/or ligament.

How A Lumbar Herniated Disc Is Diagnosed

Interestingly, not every herniated disc causes symptoms. Some people discover they have a bulging disc or herniated disc after an x-ray for an unrelated reason.

Most of the time, the symptoms, especially the pain, prompt the patient to seek medical care. The visit with the doctor usually includes a physical exam and neurological exam. He or she will also review your medical history, and ask about what symptoms you’ve experienced and what treatments you’ve tried for pain relief.

An may be needed to rule out other causes of back pain such as osteoarthritis or spondylolisthesis.

A CT or MRI scan verifies the extent and location of disc damage.These imaging tests can show the soft tissues .

Sometimes a myelogram is necessary. In that test, you will receive an injection of a dye the dye will show up well on a CT scan, enabling your doctor to more easily see problem areas.

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Can Herniated Disc Cause Severe Back Pain

A herniation, in general, occurs at an early stage of degeneration. The vertebrae of the spine are only a few millimeters deep in the spinal canal, making them inoperable for the spinal nerve or the displaced herniation disc. When the disc is displaced, the spine is compressed, resulting in pain that can be severe.

Signs You May Have Cauda Equina Syndrome

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it is critical that you contact your doctor as soon as possible: severe back pain, inability to move your legs or feet, or a change in bowel or bladder control. It is possible that these symptoms are caused by a lumbar herniation or cauda equina syndrome, which is characterized by damaged nerves that carry the spinal cord and nerves that carry the bowel.

Bulging Disc Symptoms In Your Lower Back Can Be Similar To Other Conditions

Bulging discs symptoms in the lower back can cause similar symptoms to other conditions.

This is because the symptoms come about due to compression of the nerve.

Another common condition which occurs as you age is canal stenosis. It produces similar symptoms where the nerve root is compressed, because of changes to the bone rather than a bulging disc and is another lower back pain cause.

In rarer cases a tumor in the spine can also push against a nerve root and mimic the same symptoms of pain and weakness as a bulging disc.

For this reason it is extremely important to get an accurate diagnosis from a health professional so that the cause of your problem is diagnosed correctly, since bulging disc treatment may reduce your symptoms.

If you are suffering from bulging disc symptoms in your lower back, give us a call or book online today to see if our Sydney Chiropractors can help you.

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How Does A Herniated Disc Usually Happen

It might be difficult to identify the exact cause of your lower back herniated disc. You might get a herniated disc by using the improper form to lift something heavy you accidentally forget to lift with your legs and engage your back more than your legmuscles.

Twisting or turning awkwardly simultaneously as you lift can also contribute to disc herniation.

Sometimes, people get herniated discs by falling on their back or experiencing other traumatic impacts.

The most common reason for a herniated disc is age-related wear and tear, medically known as disc degeneration. As you age, your discs become more vulnerable to tearing or rupture.

What Causes Lumbar Disk Disease

Lumbar disk disease is caused by a change in the structure of the normal disk. Most of the time, disk disease happens as a result of aging and the normal break down that occurs within the disk. Sometimes, severe injury can cause a normal disk to herniate. Injury may also cause an already herniated disk to worsen.

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Causes Of A Herniated Disc

The most common cause of disc herniation is age-related wear and tear. This is known as disc degeneration. As your body ages, the amount of water in your vertebral discs decreases, making them less flexible and more prone to tearing. Certain motions, such as twisting, turning, or lifting can also cause a herniated disc. Although less common, an injury such as a car accident or a blow to the back can cause a herniated disc.

Other Causes Of Back Pain

There are other causes of back pain, so see your doctor if pain is strong, persistent or continues throughout the night. Other reasons for back pain include:

• muscular pain this is common, and usually does not spread into the legs. It is very likely to resolve on its own without the need for specific treatment
• fractures occur more commonly in:
• people with osteoporosis
• people taking medications that cause bone loss .

Fractures can also happen after direct injury or trauma to the back

• cancer some cancers can cause back pain. See your doctor if you have:

Scoliosis may:

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Key Points About Lumbar Disk Disease

• Lumbar disk disease may occur when a disc in the low back area of the spine bulges or herniates from between the bony area of the spine.

• Lumbar disk disease causes lower back pain and leg pain and weakness that is made worse by movement and activity.

• The first step in treatment is to reduce pain and reduce the risk of further injury to the spine.

• Surgery may be considered if the more conservative therapy fails.

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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When Should I See A Doctor

Initially, you can treat herniated disk pain at home. But you should see your doctor if:

• Pain interferes with daily life, like going to work.
• Symptoms arent better after four to six weeks.
• Symptoms get worse.
• You develop loss of bladder or bowel control.
• You notice tingling, numbness or loss of strength in your arms, hands, legs or feet.
• You have trouble standing or walking.

What Are The Symptoms Of Lumbar Disk Disease

The symptoms of lumbar disk disease vary depending on where the disk has herniated, and what nerve root it is pushing on. These are the most common symptoms of lumbar disk disease:

• Intermittent or continuous back pain. This may be made worse by movement, coughing, sneezing, or standing for long periods of time

• Spasm of the back muscles

• Sciatica pain that starts near the back or buttock and travels down the leg to the calf or into the foot

• Muscle weakness in the legs

• Numbness in the leg or foot

• Changes in bladder or bowel function

The symptoms of lumbar disc disease may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

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Which Nerve Is Your Bulging Disc Pressing On

The symptoms you experience will vary depending on which nerve root is compressed by the bulging disc

There are 5 bones in your lower back or lumbar spine. These are known as L1 L5

On top of getting lower back pain symptoms, the most common places to get symptoms from a lumbar disc are:

L3/L4

This refers to the disc that is situated between Lumbar bones 3 and 4. Learn more about L3L4 Symptoms.

Pain: You may feel sharp shooting pain on the inside of the lower leg usually from below the knee to the top of the big toe.

Weakness: You will experience weakness when straightening your leg from a bent positionLoss of Sensation: You may experience altered or loss of sensation in the area just above your knee

L4/L5

This refers to the disc that is situated between Lumbar bone 4 and 5.

Its the 2nd most common place to get a disc in the lower back.Pain: You may experience pain on the outside of the leg start near your hip and running down the side of your leg to your 3 middle toes.

Weakness: Weakness is usually felt if you try to raise your big toe on the side of painLoss of Sensation: You may experience numbness or a loss of sensation in between the webbing of your big toe and second toe.

L5/S1

Refers to the disc that is situated between Lumbar bone 5 and the sacrum.

This is the most common disc bulge in the entire body because its the very bottom bone in the spine.

Why Is My Spine Tender To The Touch

Back injuries are among the most common causes of spinal pain or tenderness. Falls, car accidents, or sports injuries can put severe stress on your spine, causing it to move out of alignment. Herniated discs, or as they are also known bulging discs are another leading cause of back or spinal pain.

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How A Disc Herniates

A herniation may develop suddenly or gradually over weeks or months. The 4 stages to a herniated disc are:

A Patient’s Guide To Lumbar Herniated Disc

Lower back problems can occur for many different reasons. The terms ruptureddisc and slipped disc seem to be used more commonly in the last few decades.People often assume that everyone who has back pain has a ruptured disc. However,a true herniated nucleus pulposus is not very common. Most problems that cause pain in the back are not due toa herniated disc.

For a more in-depth discussion of the parts of the spine and how they work,along with a general overview of back and neck problems, you might want to reviewthe document, entitled:

Let’s look at what a herniated disc really is, how it causes problems, and how the condition is diagnosed and treated by a back specialist.

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Why Does My Spine Stick Out At The Bottom

This condition, which doctors call kyphosis, results from chronic forward-leaning, a posture that is too common in our world of computer screens and other devices. Over time, a habit of poor posture can cause you to develop an abnormal curve of the upper vertebrae and a mass of tissue at the lower part of the neck.

What Can I Do At Home To Relieve Herniated Disk Pain

In most cases, pain from a herniated disk can go away in time. To ease pain while your disk heals, you can:

• Rest for one to three days, if the pain is severe, but it important to avoid long periods of bed rest to prevent stiffness.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Apply heat or ice to the affected area.

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Exercise Relaxation And Positioning

In the past, people who had a slipped disc were typically advised to stay in bed for one to two weeks. Nowadays the opposite approach is taken: people are advised to stay active instead. This is because remaining in a lying position for a long time can make muscles and bones weaker, which can end up causing other problems.

Studies have shown that physical activity can improve mobility. However, whether people keep up with exercise or rest instead wasn’t found to influence the back pain itself. So it is a good idea to try to carry out your normal daily activities as much as the pain allows. Exercise has also been proven to effectively prevent back pain from returning.

Relaxation exercises may also be worth a try to help relieve back pain. How you perceive pain and how well you cope with it can be influenced by your mind.

If the pain is very severe, though, there is sometimes simply no other way to deal with it than to lie down and find a position that puts as little strain on your back as possible. Many people find the “psoas” position comfortable: While lying on your back, you put your lower legs on a raised platform high enough so that your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. But it is important not to stay inactive for too long.

Psoas position