Disc Herniation and Sciatica Relief
Are you suffering from constant neck or back pain with no relief that does not seem to go away. Disc injuries could be the cause of your nagging pain.
Our vertebral spine is composed of small bones called vertebraes and in between them, there are discs that function as shock absorbers that help you maintain your spine in alignment. The composition of these discs in the center are very soft, while the outer part of the discs are more firm and stronger. Usually it is the part in the center that gets injury more often due to physical overload, improper lifting, repetitive work, excess weight in our bodies, improper posture and also as we age, the disc loses water content, spine become less flexible and more prone to injuries. Disc herniation can occur most commonly in the lower back but it can also occur in the thoracic spine, neck or cervical spine with numbness and pain going to arms and hands.
There are some symptoms typically of disc injuries like for example numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, weakness, constant pain with a pressure feeling sensation that does not go away. In extreme cases of disc injuries in low back, it could affect the proper function of bowel or bladder, for those situations, you need to see your doctor soon to avoid farther complications. In some cases, people can be asymptomatic presenting no pain or discomfort. For accurate diagnosis, MRI may be the best way to find out if you have a disc herniation.
Sciatica pain on the other hand can be caused not only with disc injuries irritating the sciatic nerve but also with any spinal pathology, advance degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, pelvic, sacroiiac joint dysfunctions, piriformis syndrome, and hip pathologies. Pain is present along the path of the sciatic nerve, usually on the posterior leg down to the foot.
Things you can do to help your pain:
Apply cold to affected area for recent injuries, warm may also alleviate pain and discomfort, avoid prolonged sitting, avoid long periods of bed rest as it can make your symptoms worse, avoid lifting ;any movement with bending and twisting at the same time, is one of the worst movements you can do when you have a disc injury in the low back. Visit your doctor for advice on possible medications that can help your condition.
Osteopathic treatments are very effective to recover and get pain relief faster by employing gentle non- invasive techniques to relieve the pressure and irritation that the disc may be causing in some nearby nerves in the spine. Osteopathic techniques are employed to decompress the spine, releases tension in soft tissues surrounding the injury site to allow better blood circulation so that the disc can heal, improve your condition, get relief and recover faster. Acupuncture is a well known natural therapy to decrease inflammation, release tension in tissues, enhance the release of natural painkillers, and reduce stress. High levels of stress make you prone to be more sensitive to pain.
Gerardo Ponce is a Licensed Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, Acupuncturist, and Massage Therapist, holding a BioScience degree. He has an extensive clinical experience in manual medicine.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_disc_herniation
Our vertebral spine is composed of small bones called vertebraes and in between them, there are discs that function as shock absorbers that help you maintain your spine in alignment. The composition of these discs in the center are very soft, while the outer part of the discs are more firm and stronger. Usually it is the part in the center that gets injury more often due to physical overload, improper lifting, repetitive work, excess weight in our bodies, improper posture and also as we age, the disc loses water content, spine become less flexible and more prone to injuries. Disc herniation can occur most commonly in the lower back but it can also occur in the thoracic spine, neck or cervical spine with numbness and pain going to arms and hands.
There are some symptoms typically of disc injuries like for example numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, weakness, constant pain with a pressure feeling sensation that does not go away. In extreme cases of disc injuries in low back, it could affect the proper function of bowel or bladder, for those situations, you need to see your doctor soon to avoid farther complications. In some cases, people can be asymptomatic presenting no pain or discomfort. For accurate diagnosis, MRI may be the best way to find out if you have a disc herniation.
Sciatica pain on the other hand can be caused not only with disc injuries irritating the sciatic nerve but also with any spinal pathology, advance degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, pelvic, sacroiiac joint dysfunctions, piriformis syndrome, and hip pathologies. Pain is present along the path of the sciatic nerve, usually on the posterior leg down to the foot.
Things you can do to help your pain:
Apply cold to affected area for recent injuries, warm may also alleviate pain and discomfort, avoid prolonged sitting, avoid long periods of bed rest as it can make your symptoms worse, avoid lifting ;any movement with bending and twisting at the same time, is one of the worst movements you can do when you have a disc injury in the low back. Visit your doctor for advice on possible medications that can help your condition.
Osteopathic treatments are very effective to recover and get pain relief faster by employing gentle non- invasive techniques to relieve the pressure and irritation that the disc may be causing in some nearby nerves in the spine. Osteopathic techniques are employed to decompress the spine, releases tension in soft tissues surrounding the injury site to allow better blood circulation so that the disc can heal, improve your condition, get relief and recover faster. Acupuncture is a well known natural therapy to decrease inflammation, release tension in tissues, enhance the release of natural painkillers, and reduce stress. High levels of stress make you prone to be more sensitive to pain.
Gerardo Ponce is a Licensed Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, Acupuncturist, and Massage Therapist, holding a BioScience degree. He has an extensive clinical experience in manual medicine.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_disc_herniation
