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website does not provide specific medical advice and the information provided
should not be used as a substitute for seeking medical advice from a registered
health practitioner.
If you have experimented with the more
standard herniated disc treatments, and wish to try something new, it may be
well worth considering the traditional Chinese therapy of acupuncture.
Acupuncture is perhaps the most popular form of traditional oriental medicine,
and it has proven to be quite effective for treatment of a herniated disc and
the sciatic pain associated. Further to this the acupuncture can also relieve
spinal stenosis, lower back pain, spine root compression, neck pain, neuropathy
and other irritating and debilitating diseases.
In some cases Chinese herbs and acupuncture
have been proven to be more effective, less risky and less invasive in
comparison to more common forms of treatment for a herniated disc such as
surgery and oral steroids. Side effects associated with drugs for treating a
herniated disc is a common reason for people experimenting with acupuncture.
Acupuncture tends to be even more effective
when it is utilized upon the onset of the initial symptoms of a herniated disc
such as back spasms and cramps. If the condition of the herniated disc is more
severe, often acupuncture will be teamed with traditional Chinese herbal
remedies to assist in the recovery process. Further to this the longer lasting
effects of acupuncture are realized through combining the treatment with
physical therapy and exercises. When acupuncture is delivered correctly there
can also be additional benefits for the patient- such as an improvement in mood
and less fatigue.
It is very important for one’s recommended
doctor or physician to assess the degree of damage involved in the herniated
disc and associated sciatica pain, before considering acupuncture as an
effective treatment for the herniated disc.
It is a frightening statistic that more
than half of the US
adult population experience or are affected by sciatica pain. It is that
burning pain from the lower back down to the feet caused by the compression of
the sciatic nerve resulting in most instances in a herniated disc. The normal
reaction for sufferers of a herniated disc and sciatic pain is too improve the
posture and walk and site more upright. This however can increase the pressure
on the problem area, resulting in further discomfort. It is quite common that,
with age and poor nutrition, the back bone and its muscles and other essential
body parts deteriorate and breakdown, and factors like overexertion, accidents,
diseases, and bad posture all result in back problems.
Acupuncture as a herniated disc
treatment when performed as early as possible has been shown to rapidly
improve recovery time and ease sciatica pain significantly. Research has shown
that the acupuncture stimulates the damaged area of the spine creating
naturally occurring steroids encouraging it to repair and producing valuably
endorphins in the body. In this natural way the swelling is minimized and the
pain of the herniated disc is eased. This dual effect from the acupuncture is
why is can be so effective
The benefits of acupuncture often vary from
patient to patient and are also very dependent on the person administering the
acupuncture. Always seek you doctor or physician’s advice before getting
acupuncture treatment for a herniated disc and sciatica pain. Acupuncture is
certainly a far more positive option for treating a herniated disc than surgery
and more serious oral steroids.
Want further information on herniated
discs, symptoms and treatments? Please visit:
It can happen without any
warning. Typically you are moving around in some way, perhaps even lifting
something whenever you feel that little catch. Even before you stand up
straight, you realize that you just put your back out and that you are going to
be in for a world of pain. The best way to prevent having a herniated disc, of
course, is by not putting your back out in the first place. Typically we are
told not to lift and twist at the same time. After the problem already happens,
it is really too late to prevent it and now you need to concentrate on healing
your herniated disk.
The human spine is made up of 33 vertebrae, most of which will move
independently of the other. These vertebrae are separated by the disks that
allow them to move in several directions at one time. Whenever one of these
disks becomes displaced from its original position, it becomes known as a
herniated disk. It can happen in any part of our back, from the lower lumbar
region up to the neck area that is known as the cervical region. Because all of
these disks are similar to one another, the method of healing them when they
become displaced is similar as well.
A doctor will typically prescribe some physical therapy along with bed rest and
warm and cold compresses. There are some things, however, that you can do in
order to speed along the healing process. Once you are able to diagnose the
problem, as well as the source, then you can begin to heal your problem
naturally. In this way you'll be able to avoid any costly and potentially dangerous
surgery.
Being fairly common in both young adults
and older people, bulging disc can affect just about anyone. Most times they
are not a cause for panic and are often discovered by accident while having
another medical problem examined. Abnormalities, such as bulging or protruding
discs, are seen at high rates on MRIs in patients both with and without back pain. Some discs most likely begin to bulge
as a part of both the aging process and the degeneration process of the intervertebral
disc. A bulging disc is not necessarily a sign that anything serious is
happening to your spine.
It is time to consider the bulging disc serious once the bulging disc bulges
enough to cause narrowing of the spinal canal. If there are bone spurs present
on the facet joints behind the bulging disc, the combination may cause
narrowing of the spinal canal in that area. This is sometimes referred to as
segmental spinal stenosis. A lumbar bulging disc is a bulging disc that affects
the lumbar spine region.
Each of the twenty four vertebrae in the spine is identified by a code. The
lumbar region of the spine is where the low back officially begins. The lumbar
region of the spine is directly below the cervical and thoracic regions and
above the sacrum. The code that identifies the lumbar region of the spine is
L1-L5 and is most frequently involved in back pain because it carries most of
the bodies weight and is subject to the largest forces and stresses along the
spine.
L1 is approximately where the true spinal cord ends. This is where it divides into
many different nerve roots that travel to the lower body and legs. The cauda
equina makes up this collection of nerve roots. Cauda equine means horse's tail
and describes the continuation of the nerve roots at the end of the spinal
cord.
Intervertebral discs are flat, round structures that are about three quarters
of an inch thick. Being made of tough outer rings of tissue called annulus
fibrosis they can be found between each vertebra. The inside of the disc is
filled with a soft white gel-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. Flat,
circular plates of cartilage connect to the vertebrae above and below each
disc. Intervertebral discs separate the vertebrae, but they act as shock
absorbers for the spine. They compress when weight is put on them and spring
back when the weight is removed.
Intervertebral discs make up about one-third of the length of the spine and
constitute the largest organ in the body without its own blood supply. The
discs receive their blood supply through movement as they soak up nutrients.
The discs expand while at rest allowing them to soak up nutrient rich fluid.
When this process is inhibited through repetitive movement, injury or poor posture, the discs become thinner
and more prone to injury. This may be a cause of the gradual degeneration of
the structure and function of the disc over time.
A bulging disc is not a cause for panic
as they are fairly common in both younger and older people. A bugling or
protruding disc is usually see at high rates on MRIs in patients that suffer
with back pain and are also found in patients that are
not suffering from back pain. Aging process and the degeneration process of the
intervertebral disc are the most common reasons why a disc will bulge. A disc
may also bugle in relation to a back injury and sometimes in regards to what
kind of a lifestyle is led by the patient. Like we said before a bulging disc
is not necessarily a sign that anything serious is wrong with your spine, so
there is no reason to panic.
When a bulging disc bulges enough to cause narrowing of the spinal canal it is
considered to be a serious condition. If there are bone spurs present on the
facet joints behind the bulging disc the combination of these spurs and the
bulging of the disc may cause further narrowing of the spinal canal in that
area.
The care of a patient with a lumbar bulging disc is far from standardized. To a
certain extend the treatment of a patients bulging disc should be more
individualized. The bulging disc can cause leg pain (when affecting the sciatic
nerve). This can often be referred as a herniated disc, ruptured disc, pinched
nerve or a slipped disc.
Treatment of a bulging disc will mainly be dependent on the length of time the
patient has suffered with his or her symptoms and the severity of the related pain.
Most treatments will start with six to twelve weeks of conservative treatment.
If this conservative treatment for the bulging disc does not help to alleviate
the pain from the affected area(s) and there are no
signs of improvement then a surgical treatment is considered. If the patient is
in experiencing consistent severe pain and having difficulty maintaining a
reasonable level of functionality, surgery may also be recommended prior to the
completion of the six weeks of conservation treatment.
Most bulging discs will heal on their own without even the person afflicted
knowing that there was anything wrong in the first place. There are no hard and
fast guidelines for how long it will take and how to go about healing a bulging disc.
The primary goals of conservative treatment for a bulging disc are to provide
the patient relief of the pain and to allow them to return to a normal level of
functionality. A wide variety of treatment options are available and here is a
list of some of the most common bulging disc treatments.
• Rest, followed by slow mobilization
• Pain medications
• Chiropractic/osteopathic manipulations
• Physical therapy
• Epidural steroid injections
The amount of time invested in conservative treatment needs to be addressed on
an individual patient basis. Some patients will not have as sever of
debilitating pain or symptoms as other. In the patients that are still able to
lead a productive lifestyle with only minor aches and pains a longer
conservative treatment would most likely be advised. Back surgery for bulging
disc treatment should be prolonged as long as possible. For some patients the
pain and loss of productivity is just too much to handle and after conservative
treatments are explored for a shorter duration and there are no changes in the
patient’s symptoms, surgery to decompress the affected nerve is often the next
option as a bulging disc treatment.
Patients that do not feel any recovery after six to twelve weeks of
conservative care will often find themselves looking into the final bulging
disc treatment option of surgery for their bulging disc.
Any patient who has progressive neurological deficits, or develops the sudden
onset of bowel or bladder dysfunction, should have an immediate surgical
evaluation as these conditions may represent a surgical emergency. Fortunately,
both of these conditions are very rare, and most surgery for a lumbar herniated
disk is an elective procedure.
Surgical treatment options for the lumbar herniated disk include:
• Percutaneous arthroscopic laser discectomy
• Microdiscectomy
• Lumbar laminectomy
• Arthroscopic lumbar discectomy
• Microendoscopic surgery
Sciatica is a common problem. The lifetime prevalence of low back pain is
around 70%.
Many patient belive that all sciatica is due to herniated disc.....,this is
very common myth.
Sciatica can have a number of causes, such as a herniated
disc (often referred to as a slipped disc). This occurs when one of the
discs that support the vertebra (the individual bones that make up your spine)
gets temporarily pushed out of position and presses on your sciatic nerve.
(Quote from NHS choice)
But,in my practice experience,Disc area inflammatory factors
produced by the disc nucleus (perhaps in association with mechanical trauma)
will irritate nerves,this is possibly main reason of
sciatica
As different reason,the treatment would be different.That's why some
technique like traction doesn't work.and do you think another....work?
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