Low back pain ranks as the #2 reason why people visit the emergency department and is also the #1 reason for filing a disability claim. No matter the cause of your back pain, whether it’s a diffuse disc bulge or sciatica; it hurts. It can cause you to feel frustrated and disrupt your daily life.
Why is this happening?
While chronic back problems are usually associated with age, they can occur to anyone at any age. Back pain can be caused by:
- Spinal Stenosis
- Arthritis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Bulging of Herniated Discs
The bulging or herniated spine is the main cause of low back discomfort. Disc problems cause extreme pain in most people. A herniated or bulging disc can cause sciatica. If a herniated bulging disc places pressure on or touches the sciatic neural, people often feel intense pain that radiates from their lower back to the buttocks and then down to the back of the leg. Sometimes, it can even reach the foot.
What the Difference is between a Herniated Disc & a Bulging Disc
People may refer to a “slipped disc” but this is incorrect as a disc cannot actually slip out. A herniated disc is what most people mean by a slipped disc. This condition is sometimes called a “ruptured disc”. These small cushions, which are jelly-like substances, are found between the vertebrae and the bones. These cushions protect bones from rubbing against one other and act as mini shock absorbers.
These cushions become less flexible as we get older. These discs can burst out of the spine when there is too much pressure. The nerve then sends pain signals through the brain. This is known as a bulging disc.
If the pressure is not reduced or the bulging disc is sufficiently damaged, the outer layers of the disc may separate. This allows some of the soft inner material to escape. This can cause severe pain as it touches a nerve. A herniated disc is when this happens. We will provide a full explanation here. As you can see, a herniated spine can cause much more severe pain as it is often larger in size and can have a greater effect on the nerve root.
How does a Herniated Disc happen?
There are many reasons a herniated spinal disc can occur. Most commonly, it’s due to wear and tear on your discs that cushion the vertebrae of your spine. Our discs can begin to wear down as we get older. This is disc degradation. This occurs when the discs become less flexible and lose their water content. This makes them vulnerable to injury.
The following are some other reasons for herniated discs:
- Trauma: A disc could burst if it is injured in an accident or falls.
- Lifting something heavy: If your lifting technique is not correct, you could put too much strain upon your back and cause disc damage.
- Poor posture: Bad posture can cause herniated discs.
9 Ways to Naturally Get Rid of Disc-Pain and Other Problems
We know that disc pain is a big issue and you want to live a happy life. This is why we will tell you exactly how to do it.
Secret #1: Give your body time to heal
Too many people with back problems don’t allow enough time for their bodies to heal.
It takes approximately four weeks for a bulging, herniated disc in order to heal. After that, it will take 12 weeks for you to complete your regular exercise and daily activities.
If you fail or don’t implement a treatment plan, you could cause damage to the disc. You delay the healing process.
The first 48 hours of healing can be spent on the sofa or in bed. You may feel the need to sleep, which is normal because it allows healing to take place.
However, it is important to start a treatment plan.
Do not return to work unless your chiropractor has told you it’s okay. You should not stop getting treatment once you feel better.
Your body will need to heal properly. Otherwise, you may be liable for more injuries.
Secret#2: is to sit straight and not slouch
Did your mother ever say, “Sit up straight!” How many times has that been repeated to you? You’ll ruin your back if you slouch! We bet she said that a hundred times. Mama knows best. She was 100% right.
Bad posture, no matter how you sit, stand, or lift, can put a lot of strain on your lumbar spine. This will lead to an aggravation of a herniated disc.
Although bad posture doesn’t necessarily cause discs to burst, it does not help. As we age our discs become less flexible and more difficult to support. A disc that is already bulging will be more severe if it is not properly positioned.
Consult your chiropractor if there are any concerns about your posture. Your chiropractor can provide advice and guidance on how to improve your posture. Your mom will be proud.
Secret #3: Practice Yoga
Yoga is one way to prevent a herniated disc from happening again.
While you may not be able to do every pose while you heal, there are many poses that can help shift your weight and restore the disc’s proper position.
Yoga can improve posture, stress management, muscle tension, circulation, breathing, and core strength.
You shouldn’t try yoga poses that you haven’t done before. You might injure yourself more. To heal yourself and to strengthen your body, consult a yoga instructor.
For those who have disc problems, here are the top yoga poses:
- Ardah Uttanasana
- Bharadvajasa, performed on a seat and not on the floor,
- The Half Dog Pose
- Corpse Pose
- Mountain Pose
- Warrior II Pose
- Triangle Pose
- Child’s Pose
Secret #4 : Make These 10 Healthy Lifestyle Decisions
Most people want to eat well and exercise but it doesn’t look like they are doing a good enough job.
The main problem is modern-day living, which means we are too sedentary, too hungry, and too stressed.
How to fix a slipped disc. How to prevent it from happening again. We need to make lifestyle adjustments.
- Stop smoking
- Don’t drink in excess
- Avoid sitting down for extended periods. Every 30 minutes of sitting, move around or stretch for at least a minute.
- You can reduce stress by learning how to manage it.
- Sleep for at least 7-9 hours every night
- Lose weight if necessary
- Eat a plant-based anti-inflammatory diet
- Follow your chiropractor’s instructions and take anti-inflammatory medication as directed
- Aim to exercise for 30 minutes at least once a week, at minimum 6 days per week
- Your chiropractor will provide advice and check-ups on posture, lifting, ergonomics, and other issues.
Secret #5 : is to sleep in the right position
Each year we seem to learn more about how important sleep really is. It is not hard to have a healthy back!
By sleeping in a straight position, your back heals and prevents future disc problems. Here are some ways to ensure disc health while you sleep.
- Sleeping posture should mirror your posture. Standing straight up with shoulders back, and the natural S-curve of the spine, you should have a good posture.
- Sleeping on your side or back can help relieve disc pain.
- If you sleep on your back, make certain your pillow supports the neck. But don’t tilt your pillow too far or let it sink too much.
- You will need a slightly thicker pillow if you are a side sleeper. This will allow you to support your head while keeping your spine straight.
- Sleeping on your side with a pillow between them helps keep your hips and spine healthy.
- Your mattress should be firm enough to support your spine but soft enough that you can still feel straight and comfortable no matter what position you are on it.
- If you are forced to lie on your stomach, keep one pillow under each of your hips and one underneath your forehead.
- Good sleep habits can improve almost every aspect of your life.
Secret #6 : Get Chiropractic Care
How do I heal a bulging disc naturally? You can heal your bulging disc naturally with chiropractic care. Your chiropractor can help you stop pain and heal bulging discs. A chiropractor will not only diagnose the root cause of your problem and help you treat it, but can also treat it.
After you have taken an imaging exam, your chiropractor will develop a treatment plan specific to you. Each person is unique and will require a different treatment plan.
A series of adjustments to the spine will be performed by your chiropractor. This will realign the vertebrae as well as the discs. This will prevent any future protrusions outside of the spine. Your chiropractor may use different modalities depending on your specific needs.
- Ultrasound-This device uses soundwaves as heat to penetrate deep into tissues. This reduces muscle spasms and stimulates healing.
- Heat and Ice Therapy- Using heat and ice therapy to reduce swelling and pain and decrease inflammation.
- Cold Laser Therapy- Sometimes referred to as Low-Level Laser Therapy. This uses a very dimming laser to stimulate blood circulation and speed healing. The laser penetrates the tissues for warmth. In a meta-analysis, several studies revealed that cold laser therapy resulted in quicker healing of damaged tissues.
- TENS Device: TENS is transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation. This battery-operated, small device delivers an electrical current to the muscles. It is used to overstimulate the nerves and relieve pain. The nerves cease sending signals when they’re overstimulated. This device provides pain relief for hours.
- Provide advice on anti-inflammatory supplementation
- Recommendations on ergonomics for your workstation
These are only a few of many things that your chiropractor could offer. Start a treatment program together with your chiropractor to get the fastest results.
Most people with a herniated spine will not need surgery. But, there are still some cases where it may be necessary. You can rest assured that your chiropractor will refer you if he feels you need to be treated outside his area of expertise.
Secret #7 : Get a Chiropractic Treatment
Massage might not sound great if you’re in pain due to a bulging, herniated or ruptured disc. But a chiropractor may be able to give you a gentle, relaxing massage.
Your chiropractor will direct massage therapists to target problem areas. Massage can relieve muscle spasms, and promote healing by improving circulation.
Regular massage has been shown to significantly reduce chronic low back pain.
Chiropractic massage can reduce pain and stimulate healing. It is an effective and safe treatment that provides substantial pain relief, without the use of drugs.
Secret #8 : Get Physical Therapy Modalities
Exercise can heal herniated discs When you visit your chiropractor, learn about different types of physical therapy. Mild exercises can help discs heal. These include walking, standing and some other types of exercises, but not all. This is the place to go if you are looking for information on how to fix a herniated spine with exercise.
The two are closely related, and you will see many chiropractic offices offering physical therapy.
Walking or other strenuous exercises can place the load on the disc’s back. This causes the fluid and compound inside to push forward. Your physical therapist may be able to show you which exercises will put your bulging disc in its correct position.
For the disc’s natural healing, it will take approximately 4-8 weeks to complete therapy. By performing the right exercises and avoiding sitting for extended periods of time, the fluid will move away from nerves and allow for scar tissue to form.
Secret #9 : Get Acupuncture Or Epidurals
Most people don’t like the thought of needles. But for people who have chronic conditions that cause bulging or herniated spines (epidurals) or degenerative disc disease, epidurals as well as acupuncture are a way to control pain.
A majority of people can heal themselves naturally by using non-invasive treatments provided by their chiropractor. But, when that is not possible, it might be necessary to use other methods.
An epidural steroid injection to an area where herniated or bulging discs are causing pain can provide pain relief that lasts for a long time and can even delay or prevent surgery.
Acupuncture uses very fine needles to stimulate the body’s own painkillers.
Talk to your chiropractor to see if either of these options may work for you.
What NOT To Do If You Have a Bulging Disc or Herniated Disc
It’s normal to want to alleviate your pain and prevent a bulging or herniated disc from happening again. However, there are some things to be aware of that may not work.
- Don’t delay in seeking a diagnosis and treatment. You should not wear high heels.
- Don’t rush back to your usual activities once you feel better
- You shouldn’t stay in bed all night. Only 48-72 hours of sleep is necessary. Then, get up and get moving to prevent further damage to the spine.
- Don’t lift anything more than your chiropractor recommends (usually 5-10 lbs).
- You should not engage in any activity that might cause pain, such as dancing or going on amusement rides.
- Do not wear heels!
- You should not be seated on furniture that is very low, like bean bag chairs.
- Don’t do any activity that forces you to twist your back.
- Your chiropractor may allow you to run until you are comfortable. Walking is okay, running is not.
- If you find this article useful, please let others know.
What does a slipped disc feel like?
What does a slipped disc feel like? Some describe it as an electrical shock, with sharp pains in one’s lower back. Other descriptions include:
- Pain in the lower back and numbness one foot down
- You can feel the pain worse if your try to stand, sit, or stand straight.
- An intense pain that becomes worse when you walk for even a few minutes
- Low back pain that keeps you from being in one place for longer than a few minutes
- Muscle weakness of one or both legs
- Itching in the lower back
Can a Bulging disc Become a Herniated disc?
Yes. Yes. You should not ignore the bulging disc pain.
This is quite common. This can cause further damage to the bulging disc.
Can a Herniated disc heal on its own?
While a herniated spine doesn’t heal naturally, it does make the pain less intense and may even go away completely when the nerve gets less irritated.
However, this will likely mean several weeks or even months of very intense episodes.
Your body’s own immune response will identify the disc material as a foreign object, and trigger an immediate response. This response is usually called inflammation. The body will absorb any water that is found in the disc and it will shrink in size.
This painful process can be both long and tedious. It is likely that you will not be able to fully recover your range of motion. Your risk of developing another bulging or herniated disc is high because you failed to take preventive steps.
How to Diagnose a Herniated Disc
A chiropractor or doctor will perform a physical examination. After that, they will ask you questions about how and when the pain started.
To determine if your bulging disc is herniated or not, you will need to have imaging taken. Common imaging includes an MRI, Xrays, and CT scans.
This combination of information can help your chiropractor diagnose the root causes of your low back discomfort.
Are there complications associated with a herniated Disc?
Untreated, a slipped or herniated disc can result in permanent nerve damage. It can also cause paralysis, which could result in the loss of bladder or bowel control.
Saddle anesthesia is another possible problem. This could cause you to lose feeling in certain areas, like your inner thighs or the bottom of your buttocks.
Therefore, it is crucial to begin a diagnosis immediately and create a treatment plan.
What if Degenerative Disc Disease is a problem?
There may be a solution for your bulging disc or herniated disc. How do you cure degenerative disc disease naturally? It is not possible to reverse degenerative disc disease with normal activity and time. You can however use all the secrets here, particularly Secret #9 for help with managing your disease, finding ways to alleviate your pain, and learning how to avoid bulging and herniated discs. Here are the most common ways to treat herniated-disc pain.
Relieve inflammation
Reduce the pain by relieving mild herniated-disc pain. You can temporarily relieve the pain by applying an ice pack or heating pad to the affected areas. To relieve your pain, lay down on your stomach and place one or more pillows under your hips. If the pain does not go away, you should consult your physical therapists.
Pay attention to your movements
It is important that you reduce pressure on the herniated disc. Avoid wearing heels, sleeping on the stomach, and sitting or standing for long periods of time. Avoid bending your back while lifting heavy objects. Instead, use your knees and hips. Avoid repetitive bending and reaching. Be sure to maintain a good posture whether you’re standing or sitting.
Exercise
The special exercises and stretches that can help ease the pain from a herniated spine are called “special exercises” or “stretches”. You can learn how to properly perform these exercises from our physical therapists. This will reduce the pressure on the disc, and help with poor mobility. As you get stronger spinal muscles, the pressure on your disc will drop, causing the pain relief to subside.
Session with a physical therapist
In most cases, a physical therapist is able to relieve the pain from a herniated spine and can train you on how to prevent back and neck pain. For the fastest possible recovery, it’s important that you work with your physical therapists if you go to a doctor for disc problems.
Other over-the counter medications
If the herniated disc pain is mild, an OTC pain medication can be used to reduce inflammation and pain. OTC pain relief medications are most commonly OTC options. These include naproxen as well as acetaminophen. These drugs provide temporary pain relief, so it is important to consult a doctor before using them as part of your pain relief program.
Surgery
This option should be reserved for very severe cases. Most herniated discs can still be successfully treated using physical therapy and other conservative measures. The majority of herniated-disc surgery options are minimally invasive, have high success rates and can take some time to heal. Physical therapy is required for any surgery. It will be used to rehabilitate the spinal muscles and improve your joint function.
There are many options available to help you with your neck and back pain after a herniated or ruptured disc. A successful recovery begins with physical therapy.
Conclusion
Follow these tips and you will begin to feel relief within weeks. For future episodes of pain, it is important to keep up good posture and low-impact activity even after the pain has subsided.