- Rest
- Physical therapy
- Low-impact exercise
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications
- Chiropractic treatment
- Epidural steroidal injections
- Open back surgery
- Minimally invasive procedures, including laminotomy and discectomy
How can I fix a bulging disc in my lower back?
Commonly prescribed conservative treatments include: Anti-inflammatory medications Epidural steroid injections Physical therapy Exercise Lifestyle changes, including losing weight and quitting smoking Guidelines for surgery For many patients, these options are enough to help control bulging disc symptoms.
What are the treatment options for degenerative disc disease?
Spinal decompression therapy, a form of intermittent spinal traction, can also help reduce symptoms of a bulging disc and provide pain relief for longer periods of time. Traction tables can help stretch and open spinal joints to take pressure off the affected disc, which helps the bulge return to its central position between adjacent vertebrae.
What is the best treatment for a bulge on my spine?
Treatment options for a bulging disc in the lower back No matter what has caused your bulging disc, if it is triggering lower back pain, it probably requires treatment. Some bulging disc …
What is the best treatment for a herniated disk?
· In my experience, natural treatments such as infrared therapy and spinal decompression do a better job of healing the bulging disc, instead of just hiding the pain. …
How do you fix a bulging disc in your lower back 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.
How do you get rid of a bulging disc in your lower back?
Nonsurgical TreatmentRest. 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 serious is a disc protrusion?
Many cases of protruding discs heal naturally with rest and conservative measures. However, disc protrusions that continue to degenerate and press on the spinal cord or nerve roots cause significant pain, weakness, numbness and loss of movement that may require surgery to treat.
What is the treatment for L4 L5 disc bulge?
Typically, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually tried first. For more severe pain, opioids, tramadol, and/or corticosteroids may be used. Physical therapy. Exercise and physical therapy can be modified to specifically target pain stemming from L4-L5 and the lower back.
What happens if a bulging disc goes untreated?
A severe case of a bulging disc can cut off nerve impulses, even causing permanent nerve damage. Additionally, you may experience sharp paints, incontinence, bowel movement irregularity, or even partial paralysis as the issue worsens.
Can a chiropractor fix a bulging disc?
Yes! Chiropractic care is the preferred treatment method for many patients suffering from a bulging disc. It is non-invasive and does not require drugs or injections of any kind. Chiropractic can help provide you with improved mobility, decreased pain, and overall better quality of life.
What's the difference between disc bulge and protrusion?
The bulged disc material is still contained within the annulus. But in some cases, the nucleus pushes completely through the annulus and squeezes out of the disc. This is called a disc herniation or protrusion. Herniation and protrusion are two words for the same thing.
Does a disc protrusion require surgery?
Fortunately, the majority of herniated discs do not require surgery. With time, the symptoms of sciatica/radiculopathy improve in approximately 9 out of 10 people. The time to improve varies, ranging from a few days to a few weeks. Limit activities for 2 to 3 days.
Is disc protrusion worse than herniated disc?
Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.
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.
What are the symptoms of l4 l5 nerve damage?
Common symptoms and signs include: Sharp pain, typically felt as a shooting and/or burning feeling that originates in the lower back and travels down the leg in the distribution of a specific nerve, sometimes affecting the foot. Numbness in different parts of the thigh, leg, foot, and/or toes.
Can disc bulge be cured permanently?
Disc bulges are not permanent. The disc is a fluid filled structure and therefore has the capacity to heal, resolve and be re-absorbed.
So, What Is A Bulging Disc?
To understand what a bulging disc is, we must first understand the anatomy of the spine. Put simply, the spine is made up of individual vertebrae s...
What Causes A Bulging Disc?
● Seated in poor posture for long periods of time (in office, driving, etc..)● Repetitive bending, lifting, and twisting (Esp in poor form). ● Heav...
How Is A Bulging Disc Different from Herniated Disc? and Which Is Worse?
Now that we know what a bulging disc is, let’s discuss disc herniation. ● In most simple terms, a herniated disc is when the fluid material from th...
What Are The Symptoms of A Bulging Disc in The Lumbar Spine?
● Low Back Pain● Pain Can Travel Down Leg ● Decreased Lumbar Lordosis (Lower Back Curvature Becomes Flattened – Flatter Lower Back Over Time) ● Lum...
What Are The Most Effective Treatment Options?
With most bulging discs in the lower back, you want to use an extension based exercise programs. This can reverse the direction of the bulge and pu...
Exercise #1: Lying Figure-4 Stretch (For Piriformis)
In the early stages of a disc bulge, your body’s natural response is to tighten up and protect the spine and buttocks area. Because of this, one of...
Exercise #2: Prone Alternating Leg Raises
The prone leg lift creates spinal extension helping push the jelly-like material back towards the center and reduce bulging disc.
Exercise #3: Half Cobra Pose
The half cobra pose creates spinal extension helping push the nucleus (jelly) back towards the center and reduce bulging disc.
Exercise #4: Full Cobra Pose
The full cobra pose creates even more spinal extension than half cobra helping push the nucleus (jelly) back towards the center and reduce bulging...
Exercise #5: Abdominal Drawing Maneuver
A solid core foundation helps provide stability which in turn prevents re-injury and further injury from occurring. This will help reset the spine...
How do you know if you have a bulging disk?
The symptoms of a bulging disk depend on its severity and location in the spine. Some people may experience no initial symptoms. However, with further disk degeneration and herniation, a person may have the following symptoms: back pain that worsens with movement, such as sneezes. spasms in the back muscles.
How to help back pain without a doctor?
Practicing good posture, exercising regularly, and healthful eating can often improve back pain without speaking with a doctor.
Why do my vertebrae bulge?
Bulging disks occur when the spongy disks between the vertebrae become compressed and bulge out. A common cause of bulging disks is aging. If this degradation continues, it can lead to a herniated disk. Herniated disks can cause pain, numbness, and mobility issues.
How to help a swollen vertebrae?
They may suggest gentle physical activities, such as yoga or walking. Stretches for the back, neck, and legs might be another option that people can try at home to ease the pain. A person may also need to maintain a moderate weight to reduce pressure on the vertebrae.
Does over the counter pain relieve bulging disk?
Over-the-counter pain relief may relieve mild pain due to a bulging disk.
What is the best treatment for pain?
Doctors may recommend anti-inflammatory medications to help with pain and reduce inflammation. For people with severe pain, steroid injections may be a suitable short term solution.
What is the pain in the back?
back pain that worsens with movement, such as sneezes . spasms in the back muscles. weakness and numbness in the legs and feet. reduced mobility in the legs, knees, and ankles . decreased bladder and bowel control. difficulty walking.
How to get rid of disc bulges in lower back?
With most bulging discs in the lower back, you want to try an extension based exercise program (Mckenzie method is a popular one). [5] This can reverse the direction of the bulge and push the fluid back into neutral alignment. Also, working to strengthen your core is important.
What is a bulging disc?
To understand what a bulging disc is, we must first understand the anatomy of the spine. Put simply, the spine is made up of individual vertebrae stacked on top of each other. Between each vertebrae is an intervertebral disc that provides a cushion so the vertebrae don’t rub together. The discs between the vertebrae, ...
What is the best approach to a musculoskeletal problem?
Seeing a primary musculoskeletal care provider is the best approach if your symptoms are not resolving. This includes DO/MD/DC/DPT.
What happens when a disc bulges?
When a disc bulges the gel-like material inside of it gets pushed back towards the nerves and structures of the spine. [2] . This bulge can sometimes compress spinal structures, ligaments or nerves in your spine and cause pain, tingling/or burning sensation, and/or other symptoms. [1] [3]
Can you do a plank with a low back?
Notes: The most important thing is NOT to arch your low back when doing the Plank exercise. Only hold the plank for as long as you can engage your core muscles without straining the low back muscles. Other forms of exercise that may help, that were not mentioned above include core strength, walking, pilates, and yoga.
How to relieve back pain from piriformis?
Exercise #1: Lying Figure-4 Stretch ( For Piriformis) In the early stages of a disc bulge, your body’s natural response is to tighten up and protect the spine and buttocks area. Because of this, one of the the simplest things you can do yourself to relieve radiating back pain caused my a disc bulge is stretching piriformis muscle.
Can you reverse a bulging disc?
Leon’s Notes: There’s some research showing that a bulging disc can in fact be reversed with exercise and posture modifications. Meaning you could actually push back the disc material, so it doesn’t bulge. With most bulging discs in the lower back, you want to try an extension based exercise program (Mckenzie method is a popular one). [5] .
How to heal a bulging disc?
The most important thing is to give the bulging disc the opportunity to heal by: Changing the movements and habits that put unhealthy loads through the disc. Building strength in the appropriate muscles to give the disc the support it needs. Written by Dr. Jeremy James.
Why do discs help with pain?
One purpose of the discs is to distribute pressures evenly as we go through activities of daily living so that the surrounding joints and other structures are not damaged. When this process malfunctions, problems and pain can occur.
What happens when a nerve grows into a disc?
If the nerves from the surrounding tissues grow into the disc, they can transmit pain signals. (Normal discs do not have a direct nerve supply.)
Why does arthritis occur when the disc is overloaded?
If the other structures around the disc become overloaded because the damaged disc in unable to absorb shocks, they wear down and become inflamed, resulting in arthritis.
Why does my disc hurt?
Pain and/or dysfunction can be caused in four general ways: If the other structures around the disc become overloaded because the damaged disc in unable to absorb shocks, they wear down and become inflamed, resulting in arthritis .
What causes a disc to be uneven?
The weight that is usually distributed evenly through the disc by daily activities (walking, sitting, and bending over) is now distributed in an uneven pattern, putting unhealthy pressure on the affected disc and the surrounding discs, joints, and ligaments. Eventually this pressure causes problems which can result in pain.
What causes a bulging disc to hurt?
Symptom patterns common to bulging discs include pain with forward bending, pain with coughing, sneezing or bowel movements, and pain with prolonged sitting.
Treatment options for a bulging disc in the lower back
No matter what has caused your bulging disc, if it is triggering lower back pain, it probably requires treatment. Some bulging disc treatments include:
Am I a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery?
If a physician determines that a bulging disc is causing your lower back pain and other treatments have failed to offer relief after several weeks or months, you may want to discuss your treatment options with USA Spine Care.
How to heal a bulging disc?
One of the things your body needs to heal a bulging disc is to increase the space between the vertebrae, which can encourage the bulged nucleus to return to its proper place. This also helps to rehydrate the disc, which promotes the natural healing of the area. This “space increasing” will also relieve your lower back pain.
How long does it take for a bulging disc to heal?
If you ask almost any doctor, he’ll probably tell you that there’s no easy fix for a bulging disc and that most people feel a significant improvement after about 6 weeks.
What is the best alternative for inversion tables?
The Nubax Trio is the best alternative for inversion tables.
What is inversion in back?
Regular inversion allows your back muscles to relax, your spine to elongate, and create space for your discs.
How long does it take for a back inversion table to work?
Inversion Therapy. The first option is by using a high-quality inversion table. An inversion table brings a dramatic pain relief in as little as 10 seconds (for some people). Regular inversion allows your back muscles to relax, your spine to elongate, and create space for your discs.
Can you do spinal decompression at home?
This process is called spinal decompression (or back traction). It relieves the pain and allows your body to heal itself naturally – Faster. No medication, no surgery. And you can do spinal decompression at home – by yourself, whenever you need it.
Does space increase lower back pain?
This “space increasing” will also relieve your lower back pain. The pain is caused by this pressure on the nerves causing low back inflammation.
How to treat degenerative disc disease?
As per the treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease, there are several other, more conservative options. Medications such as pain killers and anti-inflammatories can relieve the pain, but do not fix the underlying problem. Chiropractic manipulation can increase spinal range of motion, relieve nerve pressure, restore blood flow ...
What is the procedure to remove a disc bulge?
In severe cases where the disc bulge is compressing nerves, spinal surgery may be an option. A Laminectomy (removing the posterior, bony portion of the vertebra) or a Discectomy (removing the disc) can be performed to take the pressure off the nerves. However, all surgery is risky, and should only be performed in exceptional cases where all other options have been exhausted.
Can disc bulges cause back pain?
As mentioned above, 52% of people with no back pain at all have a disc bulge. Some people may only experience occasional back ache in the mid-line. However, if the bulge is large enough to irritate a spinal nerve you can experience severe back pain on one side that may even extend into your buttocks or down your leg.
Why is my disc bulging?
You will notice that one of the discs is darker in colour, and is bulging to the right, into the spinal canal where the spinal nerves are. This is a disc bulge. The darker colour of the disc is generally indicative of dehydration of the disc, a result of Degenerative Disc Disease.
How to diagnose a bulging disc?
The best way to diagnose a bulging disc is with an MRI. Because the discs are soft tissue, they can not be seen effectively on an X-ray.
What is a bulge in the disc called?
The easiest way to think of a bulge is as a generalised swelling of the disc. A herniation is different, and occurs when the gel like nucleus pulposus actually squeezes through cracks in the fibres of the annulus fibrosis and pushes out into the spinal canal. The gel like nucleus can even squirt out into the area behind the disc, and this can result in severe pain and neurological problems if it compresses the nerves.
Can a bulge in the spine cause pain?
But, if the bulge is large enough it can press into the spinal canal. This can directly irritate the spinal nerves, resulting in pain. If there is any calcification or spurs (also known as osteophytes) in the area the problem can become much worse.
What is the best treatment for a herniated disc?
Options for therapy include yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic care, physical therapy, decompression, and massage therapy. Get an epidural steroid injection . Injecting a steroid right on the disc herniation sometimes reduces inflammation around the spinal nerves.
How to heal a herniated disc?
Rest. As long as you can tolerate this, try it. Give your body time to heal over a couple weeks. If you can’t handle it, try the next option. Take medication. When a disc herniates there’s a chemical reaction that creates an inflammatory response as the body tries to calm it down.
What is 3spine lumbar replacement?
3Spine is a new kind of healthcare company that vertically integrates the development, clinical research, and delivery of novel healthcare technology. The BalancedBack Total Joint Replacement is the technology platform developed by 3Spine as an alternative to fusion for the lumbar spine.
How long does it take for a herniated disc to heal?
Studies show that about 80% of herniated disc cases resolve themselves within approximately six weeks, though it’s not an exact science. Taking the time to try some or all of these options may help you to avoid surgery.
How to reduce swelling in back?
Try anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation, or try muscle relaxants. Try therapy. Once you get the swelling down, you could try therapy to create stability and strengthen the muscles around your core and back, and help improve the function of the spine.
How long does it take to recover from a bulging disc?
That’s a good idea, considering most patients gradually recover from disc abnormalities on their own, without surgery, over the course of several weeks to a couple of months.
Do you have bulging discs?
Did you know that many people have bulging discs without realizing it? In fact, you may have had one you didn’t know about—and never felt any pain. A study published in the July 1994 New England Journal Of Medicine took MRI scans of 98 people with no low back pain (recruited randomly with flyers and newspaper ads); the scans were examined for signs of disc bulges, protrusions, and extrusions. Fifty-two percent of participants without back pain had one or more bulging discs.
How to fix a disc problem?
There's more than one way to fix a disk problem. The specifics of your surgery have to do with what's actually wrong with your disks. Herniated/bulging/slipped disk: The procedure is called microdiscectomy. The surgeon removes the part of the disk that's pushing on a nerve. There are two ways to do this.
What is the procedure for a herniated disc?
Herniated/bulging/slipped disk: The procedure is called microdiscectomy. The surgeon removes the part of the disk that's pushing on a nerve. There are two ways to do this. In the traditional method, the doctor makes an inch-long cut and detaches the muscles on one side of your back. That gives them access to the bony covering where the affected nerve is. Then they can cut out any disk fragments hitting that nerve.
Is microdiscectomy surgery risk free?
If you need spinal fusion or replacement, you'll likely spend one or two nights in the hospital. No surgery is risk-free, but all these procedures are considered safe so long as you’re healthy enough to have anesthesia.
Does insurance cover microdiscectomy?
Some insurance companies won't cover it due to concerns about whether or not it works, Qureshi says. It works best if your disks go bad early, say, in your 20s or 30s, instead of 60 or older. What to Expect. A microdiscectomy is usually an outpatient procedure, so you'll probably go home the same day.
What causes the spine to narrow?
Degenerated disks:If you're in your 60s or older and have a disk problem, there's a good chance it’s worn down. You may also have arthritis in the facet joints of your spine. This can cause the open spaces within your spine to narrow (your doctor will call this stenosis).
Can you have a herniated disk again?
Spinal disk surgery also tends to work well, though the results vary depending on how severe your problem is. A true herniated disk won't ever be totally normal again after surgery, Qureshi says. But the procedure will take the pressure off the nerve and ease your pain. “Ninety-eight percent of patients will never need another surgery on the same spot," he says.
How long does it take to go home after a microdiscectomy?
A microdiscectomy is usually an outpatient procedure, so you'll probably go home the same day. If you need spinal fusion or replacement, you'll likely spend one or two nights in the hospital.
