If you have sustained an injury to your neck or back, then one or more of your discs may have herniated. Symptoms of a herniated disc can range from mild to debilitating, and without treatment, which may include participation in an injury rehab clinic program, your symptoms may result in permanent disability. Here are some of the most common symptoms, causes, and treatment options of a herniated disc:
Symptoms
When your disc bulges or herniates, it can press on the nerves of the spinal cord. In addition to muscle weakness, you may experience severe pain in your lower back that radiates to your hips, legs, and feet. You may also experience parasthesia, which refers to abnormal sensations such as numbness, tingling, and burning.
Depending upon the location of your herniated disc, your symptoms may be worse in your neck or middle and lower areas of the back. If your herniated disc is in your neck, you may experience pain and numbness in your shoulder and arms that radiate to your hand. You may also experience a diminished range of motion and may be unable to move your neck.
In extreme cases, your disc problems may be so severe that it causes incontinence of urine and stool. If this happens, you may need to make an appointment with a neurologist, who will perform a complete neurological examination and order diagnostic imaging tests of your spinal cord.
Causes
Spinal trauma is the most common cause of a herniated disc. Other causes include obesity, heavy lifting, family history, and genetic predisposition. If you are obese, losing just a few pounds will lower your risk for a herniated disc.
Also, when lifting heavy objects, wearing a support belt for your back and always following proper mechanics when lifting may help prevent disc injuries. For example, always bend at your knees when lifting, and avoid twisting your body and bending simultaneously. Also known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc, a herniated disc can also be caused by advancing age and degenerative conditions of the spine such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. Although osteoporosis is more common in menopausal women, it can develop in men.
Treatment Options
If your herniated disc is not responsive to conservative treatment options, surgical intervention may be warranted. In many cases, however, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen are effective in relieving pain and inflammation.
Other conservative treatment options you may want to consider are participating in a physical therapy program at an injury rehab clinic, chiropractic therapeutic massage, walking every day, and even nutritional intervention. Dietary supplements such as vitamin C, magnesium, and vitamin D may help enhance circulation and diminishes systemic inflammation, which can help relieve your symptoms.
If your ruptured disc is in your neck, your doctor may recommend that you wear a stabilization cervical collar to help keep your neck as still as possible, as this may help relieve your pain while facilitating healing of the surrounding structures.
To determine which treatment option is right for you, talk to your chiropractic physician. If he or she determines that your symptoms are unlikely to resolve through conservative therapies, you may be referred to an orthopedic surgeon or neurologist for further evaluation and treatment. It is important to note that while surgery can help, it may not completely resolve your symptoms and, in some cases, may even worsen your condition.
If you are suffering from the effects of a herniated disc, make an appointment with your chiropractor to learn about how participating in a therapeutic program at an injury rehab clinic can help. Before your chiropractic physician can determine the best treatment option for you, he or she will need to perform a comprehensive physical examination.
Reach out to a doctor such as Dr. Keren H. Gomez Chiropractic Physician, to learn more.
Share8 April 2019
Hi there, my name is Georgette Limerick. I am excited to share my knowledge about chiropractic procedures with you today. I was a softball player through middle school, high school and college. I often stood on the pitcher's mound and lobbed the ball over the plate. The constant movement of my shoulder pulled the ligaments and joint out of alignment. Eventually, I developed an immense amount of pain throughout my neck, back and shoulder. The pain even shot down my arm to my fingertips, making it difficult to work at an acceptable pace. I visited a chiropractor several times to see if some precise adjustments would help. After the third visit, I was convinced the procedures healed me. My site will explore the benefits of chiropractic procedures in detail. Thanks for coming by.