Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for a slipped disc or vertebrae in the lower back

by Dr. Herminio Upton V Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Treatment

  • Medications. Over-the-counter pain medications. ...
  • Therapy. Your doctor might suggest physical therapy to help with your pain. ...
  • Surgery. Diskectomy is the surgical removal of the damaged portion of a herniated disk in your spine. ...

Treatment with rest, pain medication, spinal injections, and physical therapy is the first step to recovery. Most people improve in 6 weeks and return to normal activity. If symptoms continue, surgery may be recommended.

Full Answer

How to heal a bulging disc in lower back naturally?

  • Research health conditions
  • Check your symptoms
  • Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
  • Find the best treatments and procedures for you
  • Explore options for better nutrition and exercise

How can I reduce back pain from a slipped disc?

  • Keep active
  • Keep fit
  • Keep a healthy weight
  • Eat healthy
  • Keep your posture correct
  • Take regular exercise
  • Do not smoke
  • Take great care when lifting
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Take great care when gardening.

What are the effective remedies for Slip Disc?

  • Abhyanga – Massages with medicated oil and herbal concoctions are proven effective in the ayurvedic treatment of slip disc. ...
  • Swedana – The process, Swedana, will be instrumental in relaxing the body and reenergizing it. ...
  • Shodhana – Shodhana will help in expelling toxic substances from the body. It will detoxify the body and purify it. ...

What is the best remedy for a slipped disc?

What Are Home Remedies For A Herniated Disc?

  1. Ice And Heat Therapy For pain relief, using a cold and hot pack may help alleviate your pain and keep inflammation down. ...
  2. Stretching Exercises Don’t just sit in bed all day. Try gentle movements during the day to use your muscles and keep them moving. ...
  3. Yoga

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How do you fix a slipped disc in your lower back?

Nonsurgical treatment may include:Rest. One to 2 days of bed rest will usually help relieve back and leg pain. ... Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain.Physical therapy. ... Epidural steroid injection.

How long does it take for slipped vertebrae to heal?

A slipped disc in the lumbar region of the spine (the lower back) can press on the sciatic nerve and cause pain that often radiates down one leg and into the foot. Most people recover from a slipped disc within six weeks without treatment.

Can a slipped vertebrae heal on its own?

The good news is that in most cases — 90% of the time — pain caused by a herniated disc will go away on its own within six months. Initially, your doctor will likely recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever and limit activities that cause pain or discomfort.

What will a doctor do for a slipped disc?

In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae might need to be fused with a bone graft. To allow the process of bone fusion, which takes months, metal hardware is placed in the spine to provide spinal stability.

Can a chiropractor fix a slipped vertebrae?

Chiropractors do not reduce the slippage of spondylolisthesis. Instead, they address the spinal joints above and below the slipped vertebra—helping to address the mechanical and neurological causes of the pain, not the spondylolisthesis. This can help relieve low back pain and improve motion in the region.

Is walking good for slipped disc?

Absolutely. Walking is an excellent choice for patients with herniated discs, as it stimulates blood flow and oxygen to the cells. It also helps keep your discs hydrated, which is important for healing. Other low-impact aerobic activities to try are swimming and cycling.

How serious is a slipped vertebrae?

Spondylolisthesis is a common cause of back pain, but it is not dangerous and doesn't need to take over your life. Many treatments are available, from medication and physical therapy to spinal surgery.

What makes a slipped disc worse?

The pain from a herniated disc usually is worse when you are active and gets better when you are resting. Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward may make the pain worse. The pain gets worse when you make these movements because there is more pressure on the nerve.

Can slip disc be cured permanently without surgery?

The good news is that the vast majority of herniated discs can be treated without surgery using manual therapy and exercise or with IDD Therapy disc treatment. It is only a small percentage of cases which go on to have surgery.

What happens if a herniated disc goes untreated?

Nerve Damage When a herniated disc puts significant pressure on a nerve, it can lead to significant damage by cutting off nerve impulses. Compressed nerves can lead to significant conditions, including loss of sensation in lower extremities or even loss of bowel control.

How do you get a slipped disc back in place?

Exercise can work like a vacuum to suck the center of the disc back into place, helping release pressure on the nerve. Although someone suffering an attack of back pain may find it hard to believe, it has been proven that specific exercises can help relieve some cases of back or neck pain.

When should you have disc surgery?

Your doctor might recommend surgery as an option for your herniated disc if: Your symptoms have lasted at least 6 weeks and make it hard to do your normal activities, and other treatments haven't helped. You need to get better quickly because of your job or to get back to your other activities as soon as possible.

Why do I have a slipped disc?

It is not clear why some people develop a 'slipped' (prolapsed) disc and not others, even when they do the same job or lift the same sort of objects. It seems that some people may have a weakness in the outer part of the affected disc. Various things may trigger the inner softer part of the disc to squeeze out through the weakened outer part of the disc. For example, sneezing, awkward bending, or heavy lifting in an awkward position may cause some extra pressure on the disc. In people with a weakness in a disc, this may be sufficient to cause a prolapse. Factors that may increase the risk of developing a prolapsed disc include: 1 A job involving lots of lifting. 2 A job involving lots of sitting (especially driving). 3 Weight-bearing sports (weightlifting, etc). 4 Smoking. 5 Being overweight (obesity). 6 Increasing age (a disc is more likely to develop a weakness as we become older).

How long does it take for a bulging disc to heal?

In most cases, the symptoms tend to improve over a few weeks. Research studies of repeated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans have shown that the bulging prolapsed portion of the disc tends to shrink (regress) over time in most cases. The symptoms then tend to ease and, in most cases, go away completely.

Why does my back hurt when I have nerve root pain?

Nerve root pain is pain that occurs because a nerve coming from the spinal cord is pressed on (trapped) by a 'slipped' (prolapsed) disc, or is irritated by the inflammation caused by the prolapsed disc. Although the problem is in the back, you feel pain anywhere along the course of the nerve in addition to back pain.

How old is too old to have a prolapsed disc?

The most common age to develop a prolapsed disc is between 30 and 50 years. Twice as many men as women are affected. A prolapsed disc is rare in anyone under 20 years of age. For information and advice on back pain in young people, see the separate leaflet called Back Pain in Children.

What causes a bulging disc to prolapse?

The bulging disc may press on nearby structures such as a nerve coming from the spinal cord. Some inflammation also develops around the prolapsed part of the disc. Inflammation may irritate a nerve and also causes swelling, which may put pressure on a nerve. Any disc in the spine can prolapse. However, most prolapsed discs occur in ...

How long does it take for a disc to go away?

The disc often presses on a nerve root which can cause pain and other symptoms in a leg. In most cases, the symptoms ease off gradually over several weeks. The usual advice is to carry on as normal as much as possible. Painkillers may help. Physical treatments such as spinal manipulation may also help.

What is the name of the part of the disc that bulges out?

What happens is that part of the inner softer part of the disc (the nucleus pulposus) bulges out (herniates) through a weakness in the outer part of the disc. A prolapsed disc is sometimes called a herniated disc. The bulging disc may press on nearby structures such as a nerve coming from the spinal cord.

1. Treat Pain

Changing positions or shifting posture may reduce immediate discomfort. For example, laying on the back, with feet on a chair and knees at a 90-degree angle, can sometimes be quite comfortable for back problems.

2. Have the Person Rest

Bed rest for a day or two may help, but no longer than that; it is important to become active again sooner rather than later.

4. Follow Up

The health care provider may recommend muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medications, injections of pain reliever, acupuncture, or physical therapy.

What is the treatment for a slipped disc in the lower back?

This mainly involves exercise, relaxation and positioning, painkillers or local anesthetics, and manual and physical therapy.

How to treat sciatica after slipped disc?

Manual therapy and treatments based on physical stimuli. The treatment options for sciatica following a slipped disc also include manual therapy and treatments based on physical stimuli. Manual treatment may include massages and special techniques for relaxing tense muscles or locked joints.

What is the best painkiller for sciatica?

NSAIDs that may be an option for the treatment of sciatica include diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen.

How long does it take for a slipped disc to heal?

Most people recover from a slipped disc within six weeks without treatment.

Where is the lumbar nerve injected?

In lumbar spinal nerve analgesia, the medication is injected directly at the point where the nerve root leaves the spinal canal. This has a numbing effect on the nerve root. In lumbar epidural analgesia, the medication is injected into what is known as the epidural space (“epidural injection”).

How to relax a tense muscle?

Common treatments include: Massages:Various massage techniques are used to relax muscles and ease tension. Heating and cooling:This includes the use of hot packs and heating patches, a hot bath, going to the sauna or using an infrared lamp. Heat can also help relax tense muscles.

How long does it take to recover from a slipped disc?

Most people recover from a slipped disc within six weeks without treatment. Until then there are a number of treatment options that aim to help relieve the pain and improve mobility. Exercise, relaxation and positioning.

What does a slipped disc mean?

What Does 'Slipped Disc' Actually Mean? In medical terms, a ‘slipped disc’ could be either a disc bulge (protrusion) or a ruptured disc (disc extrusion or sequestrum). Slipped discs may arise in the neck (cervical spine), back of chest (thoracic spine) or lower back (lumbar spine).

Why does my lower back hurt?

Various combinations of pain in the lower back, buttock, groin or leg can arise either from irritation within the disc itself, or when the disc causes irritation of the adjacent nerves. The pain, which when it spreads below the knee, is termed Sciatica, occurs when the slipped disc presses on a nerve in the lumbar spine.

Can a slipped disc be in one part of the body?

One of the complications in diagnosing a slipped disc is that whilst the apparent pain or problem may manifest itself in one part of the body, the actual cause of the problem can lie in a different part of the spinal region. For this reason, medical professionals pay close attention to the symptoms as a first step in evaluating what ...

How to treat low back pain?

Spinal manipulation has been found to be moderately effective for low back pain that has lasted for at least a month. Rarely, chiropractic treatment of the neck can cause certain types of strokes. Acupuncture. Although results are usually modest, acupuncture appears to ease chronic back and neck pain. Massage.

What is the procedure to remove a herniated disk?

Surgery. Diskectomy is the surgical removal of the damaged portion of a herniated disk in your spine. A herniated disk occurs when some of the softer material inside the disk pushes out through a crack in the tougher exterior. This can irritate or compress nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness or weakness.

What test can be used to confirm the location of the herniated disk and to see which nerves are affected

This test can be used to confirm the location of the herniated disk and to see which nerves are affected. Myelogram . A dye is injected into the spinal fluid before X-rays are taken. This test can show pressure on your spinal cord or nerves due to multiple herniated disks or other conditions.

What tests are needed for a herniated disk?

In most cases of herniated disk, a physical exam and a medical history are all that's needed for a diagnosis. If your doctor suspects another condition or needs to see which nerves are affected, he or she may order one or more of the following tests.

Can a surgeon remove a disk?

Loss of bladder or bowel control. In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae may need to be fused with a bone graft.

Can you take codeine for disk herniation?

Because of the side effects of opioids and the potential for addiction, many doctors hesitate to prescribe them for disk herniation. If other medication doesn't relieve your pain, your doctor might consider short-term use of opioids, such as codeine or an oxycodone-acetaminophen combination (Percocet, Roxicet).

What is the best treatment for low back pain?

Physical therapy is usually performed under the guidance of a physical therapist and may include exercises, stretches, manual therapy, massage, and/or other treatments. See Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain Relief. Chiropractic manipulation. Chiropractic adjustment of the lumbar spine may help relieve pain stemming from the L3-L4 motion segment. ...

How to help a fractured back?

See Using a Back Brace for Lower Back Pain Relief. Physical therapy . Exercise and physical therapy can help strengthen neck muscles, improve posture, and increase the range of motion after an L3-L4 injury.

How to treat lumbar nerve compression?

The goal of lumbar spine surgery is typically aimed at relieving compression of a nerve root and/or the cauda equina. Surgical options may include: 1 Microdiscectomy. A small part of the disc material near the nerve root is taken out. A portion of the bone adjacent to the nerve root may also be trimmed to relieve compression.#N#See Microdiscectomy (Microdecompression) Spine Surgery 2 Laminectomy. The lamina (area of bone at the back of the vertebra) is removed in order to provide more room for the cauda equina.#N#See Lumbar Laminectomy Surgery for Spinal Stenosis (Open Decompression) 3 Foraminotomy. The opening for the spinal nerve root (intervertebral foramen) is enlarged by trimming bony overgrowth, relieving nerve compression. 4 Facetectomy. Trimming and/or removing a part of the facet joints and/or bony overgrowths to relieve nerve root compression. 5 Fusion of L3-L4. Depending on the extensiveness of the surgery and the amount of bone removed, the surgical segment may be fused with the adjacent motion segment to provide stability.#N#See Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery 6 Lumbar artificial disc replacement. This surgery is not very common and includes a complete replacement of the lumbar intervertebral disc to relieve nerve root compression and replace it with an artificial implant.#N#See Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement for Chronic Back Pain

What is the procedure to open the spinal nerve root?

Foraminotomy. The opening for the spinal nerve root (intervertebral foramen) is enlarged by trimming bony overgrowth, relieving nerve compression. Facetectomy. Trimming and/or removing a part of the facet joints and/or bony overgrowths to relieve nerve root compression. Fusion of L3-L4. Depending on the extensiveness of the surgery and ...

What is the procedure for L3 L4?

Surgical Treatments for L3-L4. The goal of lumbar spine surgery is typically aimed at relieving compression of a nerve root and/or the cauda equina. Surgical options may include: Microdiscectomy. A small part of the disc material near the nerve root is taken out.

What is the treatment for L3 nerve pain?

Spinal nerve pain from L3 may be treated with steroid injections in the epidural space or into the L3-L4 facet joint. Risks of these injection procedures include hematoma, bleeding, and/or nerve damage.

What is the treatment for L3-L4?

Treatment of the L3-L4 motion segment usually involves one or more of the following methods: Medication. Both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications are used to treat pain stemming from L3-L4, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, tramadol, and/or corticosteroids.

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