Is Your Back Pain Caused by a Herniated Disc?
Is back pain preventing you from living the life you love? No one wants to experience back pain, and the problem can feel even more unmanageable when you have no idea what’s causing it.
If you’re experiencing back pain, it’s possible you may have a herniated disc. A herniated disc refers to an issue with one of the rubbery cushions that rest between the vertebrae. A spinal disc has a soft jellylike interior with a tougher exterior.
Strange neck, back, or extremity pains can indicate a variety of problems, including one or more herniated discs. How can you tell if you have this particular problem? What can you do if you do have a herniated disc? These questions don’t have to add to your confusion and frustration.
Physical therapy can help if your back pain is caused by a herniated disc. To learn more, please contact us today. Our experienced therapists are ready to treat you.
How can I find out if I have a herniated disc?
A physical exam can help your doctor diagnose a herniated disc. A neurological exam can be performed by your doctor to assess muscle strength, reflexes, walking ability, and touch sensitivity. To determine the source of your pain, imaging tests may be ordered.
A CT scan provides cross-sectional images of the spinal column and can be used to locate a herniated disc. An MRI produces images of the internal structures of the body and can also confirm the location of a herniated disc.
A herniated disc doesn’t always bring about painful symptoms. However, when symptoms do arise, they can be used to help you troubleshoot the nature of your problem. The most common indicators of a herniated disc include:
- Pain that began after you gained a significant amount of weight (since obesity is a risk factor for disc problems)
- Pain that started shortly after an accident, extreme twisting of the neck or back, or an attempt to lift a heavy object
- An inability to walk more than a few steps without pain
- Pain, tingling, or loss of sensation in a limb (the result of a herniated disc pressing against nerve roots.
- Back pain that seems to grow worse when you sneeze, cough, stand up or sit down
- Neck pain (if it’s a cervical disc)
If massage, heat, or cold seem to relieve your symptoms, you may have a strained muscle or tendon rather than a herniated disc.
Ultimately, medical imaging is the most accurate way to confirm the presence of a herniated disc. X-rays can reveal not only the abnormal shape of a herniated disc, but also whether or not the herniation is pressing on a nerve.
Am I at risk for a herniated disc?
A herniated disc is frequently the result of aging, which is referred to as disc degeneration. The disc becomes less flexible as it ages.
Lifting heavy objects incorrectly can also result in a herniated disc. Weight and genetics are two other risk factors. Excess body weight puts additional strain on the discs. In addition, genetics can predispose to the development of a herniated disc.
While the majority of herniated discs occur in the lower back, they can also occur in the cervical region. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the disc and whether or not it is compressing a nerve.
Usually, only one side of the body is affected. You might feel arm or leg pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. If the herniated disc is in the back, you will most likely feel pain in the buttocks, thigh, and calf.
If your herniated disc is in the neck, you’ll likely feel pain in your arm and shoulder. A herniated disc can cause excruciating pain. Pain, numbness, and tingling can also spread to other parts of the body.
Keep in mind that you can have a herniated disc with no symptoms.
How can physical therapy provide back pain relief?
Physical therapy is essential in the recovery from a herniated disc. There are numerous physical therapy techniques available, including passive and active treatments.
A physical therapist’s passive treatments include hot and cold therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and deep tissue massage. Heat therapy improves healing by increasing blood flow to the target area while cold therapy reduces inflammation and muscle spasms.
TENS stimulates endorphins and reduces pain by using tiny electric currents. Deep tissue massage increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients in the body, which aids in pain relief and healing.
If you have a herniated disc, a physical therapist will also work with you to develop an active treatment plan that will emphasize flexibility, core stability, and muscle strength.
Core strengthening exercises will help to strengthen the back muscles and provide more support while stretching and flexibility exercises will improve movement. Muscle-strengthening exercises will help build a strong structural support for the back.
Contact us for relief from your herniated disc
Physical therapy can help you recover from a herniated disc and prevent future spine injuries.
If you have any of the symptoms of a herniated disc, you should visit a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will almost certainly recommend physical therapy. To schedule an initial appointment, please contact us right away. You deserve to live a life without pain, and we can help you get there.
