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All You Need to Know About Herniated Discs

Submitted by zhihao on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 22:40

Back pain that shoots down your leg can main day to day activities extremely intolerable. Ending the pain becomes extremely essential.  Disc herniation is the main cause of back pain that shoots down your leg. It is also called as a ruptured disc.

Spine is made up of vertebrae i.e. the bones that are cushioned by discs. These discs consist of the outer tough layer, i.e. the annulus and the inner jelly layer i.e. the nucleus pulposus. In case of herniated disc, a small portion of the nucleus pulposus pushes out through a tear in the annulus into the spinal cord. This can cause irritation to nerve and thus it results in pain, weakness or numbness in the foot. In the neck, a nerve may become irritated and this results in pain, weakness or numbness of hand or arm. A lot of pain management centres can help in dealing with herniated disc. Thus, a surgery is not generally required.

One may have a herniated disc without even knowing it and sometimes herniated discs are diagnosed with the help of MRIs. Sometimes people may have this problem without pain, however, in most cases, herniated discs are very painful.

Symptoms of Herniated Disc:

Some common signs of this disc problem are:

  • Sciatica: This is a radiation or aching pain that sometimes includes numbness and tingling that begins in the buttocks and extends down the back.
  • Numbness, weakness and pain in one leg or one arm.
  • Leg pain or low back pain that turns too bad when you cough, sneeze or even sit.

Some cases of disc hernia can be critical and may need immediate medical attention. If you are facing any of the below symptoms, then it is essential that you seek medical attention:

  • You develop increased hand and foot numbness.
  • You do have control on your bladder and bowels.
  • You experience a neck or back pain that lasts for several days.

For accurate diagnosis of this disc problem, you will need to go through a thorough medical evaluation that includes tests such as CT scan and MRI.

Treatment:

Irrespective of whether you’re dealing with a mild or severe disc problem, there are various options that can help you get rid of pain. Treatments for this disc problem depend on where it is located and how severe the damage is. Once a doctor diagnosis you, he will help you find the right treatment for your condition. If the problem isn’t serious, all you may need is just some changes in lifestyle and medication. Bed rest is a good idea as well.

Most patients dealing with this disc problem usually get treated without any surgery. However, if the in case there is no pain relief even after prolonged pain management treatment, then medicines or injections are prescribed to the patient.

Physical Therapy is essential for everyone who suffers from this disc disease. Pain management and physical therapists help one perform day to day activities by recommending exercises that help in reducing back and leg pain.  They also teach the patient the right postures to deal with the herniations that occur in the neck. The therapists also teach the patients the most effective exercises for strengthening the muscles that support the spine and also help one learn how to increase the flexibility of their spine.

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