Herniated disc pain in your lower back can greatly influence your daily life. The stiffness and pain can keep you from doing the things you enjoy. By learning about this condition you can discover how to help herniated disc pain and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
What is a Herniated Disc?
The spinal cord is made up of vertebrae, which are stacked on top of each other into a column. Cushioning these vertebrae are connective tissue with a gel core. The tissue wraps around the gel, allowing you to move around fluidly and without pain. When the connective tissue is damaged and torn, the gel can start to protrude out. This is called a herniated disc or a bulging disc.
What Causes a Bulging Disc in the lower back?
There are three things that can cause a disc bulge in the lower back. They do not directly cause the injury, but they can lead to one if the activity is forceful and/or repetitive. Bending forward, sitting with poor posture, and lifting. There are safe ways to do these activities, such as proper lifting and sitting in a chair with decent lumbar support. Sometimes a forceful movement will cause it, or the ailment may happen over time.
What Are the Symptoms?
Herniated disc in lower back symptoms include a sudden onset of pain that can radiate down into the buttocks, lower leg, and foot. Stiffness, pins and needles, and weakness are also common symptoms. You may not always feel this pain right away. Sometimes there will not be any pain or stiffness until the next morning.
What is the Treatment?
A physiotherapist will work with you to determine the right kind of herniated disc in lower back treatment. There are also some exercises you can do to help speed up your healing and to help the herniated disc pain. However, make sure you check with your own doctors before trying any of the following exercises.
One exercise is called prone laying. Find a comfortable and flat surface and lay face down on top of it. Stay in this position for between 10-20 minutes, as long as it is comfortable. If it is uncomfortable, you can try propping a pillow under your hips. Remove it once the pain is gone. Repeat this three to five times a day, as long as it does not increase your pain or your symptoms.
The elbow prop is another exercise. From that same position, slowly bring yourself up onto your elbows. Hold that position for between two and five seconds, then lower yourself down in a controlled manner. As long as you do not experience any additional pain or symptoms, repeat this exercise five times a day.
A herniated disc in the lower back happens when the gel inside your vertebrae starts to protrude. This can be treated with therapy and exercises. To prevent it from happening in the future, work on your core stability, learn how to properly lift objects, and use a chair with lumbar support.