Do you have a herniated or bulging disc? Read this ESSENTIAL guide to coping with your condition.Coping with the pain and discomfort of a herniated disc can make everyday life difficult and hard to manage. If you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or you fear you’re displaying the symptoms of one, this guide offers you solutions and advice to help you manage your condition with ease.

What is a herniated disc?
A herniated disc refers to an abnormality with the spinal disc – the soft cushion that sits between each vertebrae of the spine. When a spinal disc becomes herniated, it loses it shape and bulges out – or pushes itself outside of its normal boundary. Sometimes it may bulge out so much that it touches the spinal cord or spinal nerves and compresses them, causing pain and discomfort.

What are the symptoms?
These are the most common symptoms of a herniated disc:

a)    Sciatica – an aching, radiating pain that starts in the buttock and extends down the side or back of one leg. This can be accompanied by tingling or numbness.
b)    Pain, numbness or weakness that occurs in the lower back and leg, or in the neck, shoulder, chest or arm.
c)    Lower back or leg pain that gets worse when you sneeze, cough or even sit down.

How can I manage my condition?
If you experience any of the symptoms above, it is important that you see a doctor who is able to run the appropriate tests and make the correct diagnosis. Once you have established you have a herniated disc, here are some great ways to manage the pain and the discomfort.

a)    Pain relief
-    Herniated discs can get better over time. If you are experiencing pain, make sure you rest and avoid activities that could aggravate your symptoms and place extra pressure on your back.
-    Your doctor should direct you to the services of a good physical therapist. The therapist will show you exercises and positions to help you minimize any pain and discomfort. They will also provide rehabilitation exercises that will build up your core strength and stability to improve your back health and help protect it from future injury.
-    The alternation between cold and heat treatments for back pain has proved to be very effective. You can purchase both cold and heat packs from your local pharmacy and apply them to your back or the area of pain from the comfort of your home.
-    There is a range of medication that your doctor may suggest to help you. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are normally prescribed for herniated discs to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Oral steroids are useful when sudden and acute disc herniation occurs. Over-the counter or extra-strength pain relievers, or muscle relaxants, may also be prescribed. In some cases, injections of cortisone can be administered in the area where the nerves are being compressed.
-    Around 10 percent of patients with herniated discs have surgery to help relieve their condition. This is only after all other conservative treatments have failed, if there are problems walking or standing, or sometimes when a disc fragment lodges in the spinal canal. Then a discectomy or microdiscectomy may be performed where the offending herniated disc fragment may be removed.

b)    Restoration
Once pain can be effectively managed, it is beneficial to improve the health of the back to help it regain strength and return it to good form. The following are all effective suggestions to help you achieve this.
-    Acupuncture – This therapy derived from traditional Chinese healing involves the insertion of fine needles into areas of your skin that are believed to be related to vital organs and systems in your body. It may provide short term pain relief from lower back pain.
-    Massage – Massage can also be effective for pain relief and to help relieve tension in other areas of the back.
-    Spinal manipulation – This may be carried out by your physical therapist or by a chiropractor. This will help resolve pain but can also help correct any imbalances in the spine or back.
-    Yoga – Breathing techniques, yoga postures and deep relaxation will help improve the back muscles and their overall function.
-    Exercise – Generally, exercise slows age-related degeneration of discs. Also, carrying out specific back exercises will help improve the strength and flexibility of the back and its muscles.

c)    Prevention

If you suffer from a herniated disc, it is also important to prevent future injury or the risk of incurring another herniated disc. These are some sensible measures you can take:
-    Quit smoking – Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of developing back problems.
-    Maintain a healthy weight – Excess weight has been shown to put extra stress and pressure on the spine and its discs, increasing the risks of herniation.
-    Continue exercising – To help back strength and health.
-    Learn how to maintain good posture. Having good posture reduces the amount of unnecessary pressure that can be placed on the spine and its discs. When lifting heavy objects, it is important to use your legs, not your back, to help you. Also, when sitting for long periods of time, it is vital for good back health that the spine be kept straight and aligned. Consider investing in a good posture and back support that can be used at your work desk, at home or in the car. This simple aid can have huge benefits for your future back health.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.trucomfort.com as the original source).Coping with the pain and discomfort of a herniated disc can make everyday life difficult and hard to manage. If you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or you fear you’re displaying the symptoms of one, this guide offers you solutions and advice to help you manage your condition with ease.

What is a herniated disc?
A herniated disc refers to an abnormality with the spinal disc – the soft cushion that sits between each vertebrae of the spine. When a spinal disc becomes herniated, it loses it shape and bulges out – or pushes itself outside of its normal boundary. Sometimes it may bulge out so much that it touches the spinal cord or spinal nerves and compresses them, causing pain and discomfort.

What are the symptoms?
These are the most common symptoms of a herniated disc:

a)    Sciatica – an aching, radiating pain that starts in the buttock and extends down the side or back of one leg. This can be accompanied by tingling or numbness.
b)    Pain, numbness or weakness that occurs in the lower back and leg, or in the neck, shoulder, chest or arm.
c)    Lower back or leg pain that gets worse when you sneeze, cough or even sit down.

How can I manage my condition?
If you experience any of the symptoms above, it is important that you see a doctor who is able to run the appropriate tests and make the correct diagnosis. Once you have established you have a herniated disc, here are some great ways to manage the pain and the discomfort.

a)    Pain relief
-    Herniated discs can get better over time. If you are experiencing pain, make sure you rest and avoid activities that could aggravate your symptoms and place extra pressure on your back.
-    Your doctor should direct you to the services of a good physical therapist. The therapist will show you exercises and positions to help you minimize any pain and discomfort. They will also provide rehabilitation exercises that will build up your core strength and stability to improve your back health and help protect it from future injury.
-    The alternation between cold and heat treatments for back pain has proved to be very effective. You can purchase both cold and heat packs from your local pharmacy and apply them to your back or the area of pain from the comfort of your home.
-    There is a range of medication that your doctor may suggest to help you. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are normally prescribed for herniated discs to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Oral steroids are useful when sudden and acute disc herniation occurs. Over-the counter or extra-strength pain relievers, or muscle relaxants, may also be prescribed. In some cases, injections of cortisone can be administered in the area where the nerves are being compressed.
-    Around 10 percent of patients with herniated discs have surgery to help relieve their condition. This is only after all other conservative treatments have failed, if there are problems walking or standing, or sometimes when a disc fragment lodges in the spinal canal. Then a discectomy or microdiscectomy may be performed where the offending herniated disc fragment may be removed.

b)    Restoration
Once pain can be effectively managed, it is beneficial to improve the health of the back to help it regain strength and return it to good form. The following are all effective suggestions to help you achieve this.
-    Acupuncture – This therapy derived from traditional Chinese healing involves the insertion of fine needles into areas of your skin that are believed to be related to vital organs and systems in your body. It may provide short term pain relief from lower back pain.
-    Massage – Massage can also be effective for pain relief and to help relieve tension in other areas of the back.
-    Spinal manipulation – This may be carried out by your physical therapist or by a chiropractor. This will help resolve pain but can also help correct any imbalances in the spine or back.
-    Yoga – Breathing techniques, yoga postures and deep relaxation will help improve the back muscles and their overall function.
-    Exercise – Generally, exercise slows age-related degeneration of discs. Also, carrying out specific back exercises will help improve the strength and flexibility of the back and its muscles.

c)    Prevention

If you suffer from a herniated disc, it is also important to prevent future injury or the risk of incurring another herniated disc. These are some sensible measures you can take:
-    Quit smoking – Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of developing back problems.
-    Maintain a healthy weight – Excess weight has been shown to put extra stress and pressure on the spine and its discs, increasing the risks of herniation.
-    Continue exercising – To help back strength and health.
-    Learn how to maintain good posture. Having good posture reduces the amount of unnecessary pressure that can be placed on the spine and its discs. When lifting heavy objects, it is important to use your legs, not your back, to help you. Also, when sitting for long periods of time, it is vital for good back health that the spine be kept straight and aligned. Consider investing in a good posture and back support that can be used at your work desk, at home or in the car. This simple aid can have huge benefits for your future back health.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.trucomfort.com as the original source).