Symptoms of disc problems back pain. increased back pain when repetitively bending or with prolonged sitting. increased back pain with coughing, sneezing, laughing or straining. pain, numbness or pins-and-needles radiating into an arm or leg if a disc has caused irritation of a nearby nerve.
Your spinal disc is at the bottom of your back, so if you have pain in your lower back, you may assume it is a slipped disc. Furthermore, the feeling of pain will differ between the two. Muscle pain will feel like post-workout soreness, while disc pain will feel debilitating and tingly.
If your herniated disk is in your lower back, besides pain in your lower back, you'll typically feel pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf. You might have pain in part of the foot as well. For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm.
The good news is that most people's disk problems get better without an operation. Anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and steroid injections can all make a big difference. A little rest -- and patience --help, too. "About 80%-85% of patients with herniated disks will get better in time," says Carlos A.
Check if it's a slipped disc
numbness or tingling in your shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs or feet. neck pain. problems bending or straightening your back. muscle weakness.
A slipped disc is a leading cause of neck, arm, back, and leg pain. Those who have experienced it say it causes a throbbing, burning, tingling pain.
Herniated Disk (Slipped, Ruptured or Bulging Disk) A herniated disk is also known as a slipped, ruptured or bulging disk. It's one of the most common causes of neck, back and leg pain. Most of the time, herniated disks heal on their own or with simple home-care measures.
The simple movement of walking is one of the best things we can do for chronic lower back pain. Ten to fifteen minutes of walking twice a day will help ease lower back pain.
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.
Disk problems are sometimes lumped together under the term degenerative disk disease. Change in the condition of the disk is a natural result of aging. This is part of our gradual loss of flexibility as we grow older. But disk degeneration is far more serious in some people than in others.
These “red flags” include a history of trauma, fever, incontinence, unexplained weight loss, a cancer history, long-term steroid use, parenteral drug abuse, and intense localized pain and an inability to get into a comfortable position.
If you're experiencing back pain when sitting, your impulse may be to lie down and then try to slowly progress back to sitting, says Dr. Atlas. But this is the wrong approach. You should lie down to relieve the pain, but the goal should be not to return to sitting, but rather to regain your ability to stand and move.
Back sprains are usually relegated to the back area, meaning they don't cause pain elsewhere in the body. The pain also tends to lessen when bending forward and return when straightening from a forward bend. Herniated discs usually cause pain down the leg, and tend to hurt with any back movement.
Contact your health care provider for back pain that: Lasts longer than a few weeks. Is severe and doesn't improve with rest. Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain goes below the knee.
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.
3) Fetal Position: When you suffer from a herniated disc, this is often the most comfortable position to sleep in. Fetal position is achieved by lying on your side with your knees pulled up to your chest. The position takes the pressure off your spine and allows you to get a good night's sleep.
He explains that it's best to be up about as much as possible; complete bed rest for a herniated disc is not recommended. Many patients with a slipped disc find that sleeping in a recliner chair is most comfortable.
Avoid: High-impact activities.
High impact exercises, such as jogging and high-impact aerobics, can put pressure on a disc and cause more injury. Also, avoid movements that cause twisting, such as golf, as it can up back pain pressure.
Flexion Based Movements
This typically causes the disc herniation to put extra pressure on surrounding tissues, causing increased muscle spasms and potential nerve symptoms. Flexion based activities include bending down to pick something up, traditional biking, sit ups, toe touches, and deep squats.
Nine out of ten individuals with a herniated disc can heal their condition through non-invasive procedures. If you want to explore conservative options for recovery, chiropractic care is an excellent place to start. A chiropractor can help you heal naturally and relieve your pain.
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 you leave a herniated disc untreated, you may experience intense, sharp pains, partial paralysis, or the inability to control bowel movements in relatively dire situations.