Herniated Disc Pain Effects Life

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Herniated Disc Pain

Overview

A herniated disc can occur anywhere in the spine. The most common areas for a herniated disc is in the cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) spine. Herniated discs are often referred to as slipped discs or ruptured discs. This results from a tear in the outer layer of a disc. The tear allows for the nucleus to push out of the tear. This puts pressure on the nerves. Herniated disc pain can vary

herniated disc pain

herniated disc pain

depending on the area of the spine where the disc slipped.

Herniated Cervical Disc

The cervical region consists of seven vertebrae in the neck. Herniated disc pain in the cervical region is one of the most common causes of neck pain. Some people can experience numbness or tingling in their shoulders or arm. This can also travel into the fingers. Some patients may also experience weakness in the hand and fingers. Some more serious symptoms can include problems using hands or arm for fine motor skills. A loss of balance and coordination is another symptom of herniated disc pain.

Herniated Lumbar Disc

The lumbar region consists of five vertebrae. Herniated disc pain in the lumbar region can vary. Some patients may experience pain that radiates into one or both legs. Sometimes this can also travel into the feet. This is also known as sciatica. Herniated disc pain can feel like an electric shock when standing, walking, or sitting. Bending, sitting, or lifting may also increase the pain. Herniated disc pain can be accompanied by numbness or tingling in the legs or feet.

Complications

If left untreated, herniated disc pain can increase. This can lead to permanent nerve damage. In rare cases, a herniated disc can cut off nerve impulses in the lower back. This can cause loss of bowel or bladder control. Another long term complication is known as saddle anesthesia. In this case, it compresses nerves and causes loss of sensation in your inner thighs.

Diagnosis

In order for a herniated disc to be diagnosed, your doctor will have to perform an exam. The doctor will be looking for the source of the pain. This will involve checking for nerve function and muscle strength. They will look to see if you feel pain when moving or touching the affected area. A full case history will be taken. This will go over when the pain first started. It will also go over when the pain got worse. Imaging tests may also be done. This will help identify any areas of the spine that can be damaged.

 

 

 

 

Treatment Read more

Herniated Cervical Discs Destroying Your Life?

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Herniated Cervical Discs can be a challenge.

Anatomy of Cervical herniated discs and the spine

It is helpful to understand the anatomy of the cervical spine when discussing herniated cervical discs. The cervical (neck) region contains seven vertebrae. Each vertebrae is separated by a disc. The disc is a gel-like substance. It helps to absorb shock. The cervical spine helps to support the weight of the head, which is ten pounds. At each disc level, a pair of spinal nerves exits from the Read more

Spinal Alignment is Extremely Important

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Spinal Alignment

The Spine

The spinal column is made out of bones called the vertebrae. There are thirty-three bones that interlock. Only the top twenty-four bones are moveable. In between each bone is a disc. The disc is a soft cushion. It acts to absorb shock. There are many muscles that attach to the spine. This helps provide movement and give strength to the spine. There are many nerves that travel through the Read more

Lumbar decompression

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Lumbar Decompression

Lumbar decompression is a type of surgery. It is used to treat compressed nerves in the lower part of the spine. It is only recommended when non-surgical procedures have not worked. Lumbar decompression helps improve symptoms like chronic pain, and numbness in the legs. This is caused by pressure on the nerves in the spine. Lumbar decompression is often used to treat spinal Read more

Find a Chiropractor

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Find a Chiropractor

Recommendations for a Good Chiropractor

Chiropractic is a profession with a wide variety of practice techniques. This can make it a challenge to select the best chiropractor. In order to find a chiropractor, the best place to start is with a Primary Care Physician. A Physical Therapist or Spine Specialist may also have a good recommendation. It also helps to ask friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Although, it is important to be Read more

Back to Health Chiropractor

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Back to Health Chiropractor

Overall Health

Being healthy is not an absence of symptoms. A person can have zero symptoms and still be unhealthy. Overall health is a sense of ease as opposed to disease. A functional nervous system is a good way to get back to health. When the nervous system is functioning better, you have a better life.  A chiropractor can help get you back to health with a better functioning nervous system.

Back to Health

Back to Health

Nervous System

The nervous system is a complex collection of nerves and specialized cells. These cells are known as neurons. They transmit signals between different parts of the body. The nervous system has two Read more

Sleep Deprivation and Back Pain: An Interconnected Relationship

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Back pain is no laughing matter. It can interfere with the ability to live an active life and elicit pain during simple tasks. Getting a full night’s rest, that’s at least seven to nine hours of sleep, plays a bigger role in reducing back pain than many realize. As a natural biological function, rest is essential to reducing and managing back pain.

Sleep and Pain: A Tumultuous Relationship

Sleep and pain have a tumultuous relationship because pain can easily interfere with the sleep-wake cycle. However, sleep deprivation can reduce pain tolerance, which can make it even more difficult to get a full night’s rest.

A study published in Sleep explored the relationship between sleep time and pain tolerance by measuring the amount of time it took participants to withdraw their finger from a radiant heat source. Results showed that those who got four hours of sleep had 25 percent less pain tolerance than those who’d gotten eight hours of sleep, which is considered a full night’s rest.

Another group of researchers questioned what would happen if sleep time were extended from eight to ten hours. While the changes in pain tolerance were mild, those who slept ten hours still showed more pain tolerance than those who slept less.

However, the very sleep needed to reduce pain can be equally disrupted by back pain. That’s where a good mattress and pain management come into play.

The Right Mattress

A review of mattress designs and their effects on sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment found that a medium-firm mattress frequently helps reduce low back pain. Mattresses of all types including memory foam, latex, innerspring, and hybrids can all be found in medium-firm options. However, there are individual exceptions to this rule.

Sleep position plays a big role in back pain and can change the firmness and type of mattress needed. Stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress to prevent an arch in the spine. On the other hand, side sleepers need a softer mattress to account for the curves of the body pressing into the surface of the mattress. A focus on comfort and good spinal alignment between shoulders and hips can help you find the right type for your sleep position.

If you weigh under 130 pounds, you may need a softer mattress for better spine alignment. On the other end of the spectrum, those over 230 pounds generally need a firmer mattress to keep the spine in alignment.

Better Pain Management

Managing back pain before getting into bed can also improve sleep quality. Depending on the location and source of the back pain, it might take some trial and error to find a combination of treatments that reduce pain.

  • Hot/Cold Treatments: Ice packs numb the area and reduce swelling. Heat, on the other hand, brings blood to the area for better healing and acts as a natural muscle relaxer.
  • Massage Therapy: The manipulation of muscle and tissue helps move lactic acid out of the muscles and relieves knots and tension. Relief may last for a few days but continued treatments might be necessary for prolonged pain relief.
  • Spinal Adjustments: Sometimes areas of the body become imbalanced. A licensed chiropractor can help identify these points and restore balance to the body using spinal adjustments and other chiropractic methods.

With adequate sleep, the right mattress, and a focus on continuing pain management, you can bring back pain under control. Better sleep can not only help you live the active lifestyle you want but also reduce the pain in your life.