5 Slipped Disk Treatments

Slipped disk or also known as herniated disk pertains to a problem with one of the disks connecting the human bones that pile up to craft spine.  A spinal disk is a small like a jelly donut enclosed inside of a harder outer wall with a softer core.  A slipped disk develops when a few of the softer jelly drive out throughout a crack in the harder outer wall.

Slipped disk can cause irritation to the close by nerves that may result in soreness, weakness or numbness in a leg or an arm.  Most people affected with slipped disk do not experience symptoms.  They don’t even have to undergo surgical procedure as a treatment to the problem.

What are the symptoms of slipped disk?

Some people with slipped disk may have no knowledge that they are already affected with it for it shows no symptoms.  However, some slipped disk can be very painful.  The location of the symptoms may differ depending on what area along the spine the slipped disk is situated.  Most of the slipped disk is being develop in the lower back or also called lumbar spine, even though it may also develop in the neck or cervical spine.  Most of the frequent signs and symptoms of slipped disk are the following.

  • If the slipped disk is located in the lower back, there may have normally severe pain in the buttocks, thigh and leg lower than the knee.  There may also part of the foot involve.  If the slipped disk is located in the neck, the most severe pain will be in the arm and shoulder.  The pain may hit into the arm or leg once you cough, sneeze or even move the spine in some certain position.
  • People with slipped disk frequently have tingling or numbness in the part of the body that are being supplied by the affected nerves.
  • The muscles that are being connected to the affected nerves have a tendency to get weaker.  This may result to stumbling or weaken the capability to hold or pick up items.

 

What are the causes of slipped disk?

Old age is the most cause of slipped disk because some of the water content of the spinal disks gets down as we age.  Slipped disk is the most outcome of a slow, aging-related wear and tear known as disk degeneration.  This reduces the flexibility of the spinal disks and has more tendencies to rupture even with a slight twist or sprain.

Using of the back muscles rather than the leg and thigh muscles to pick up heavy and huge objects can also result to slipped disk.  Distressing incident like a fall or blow to the back may also be the reason of a slipped disk.

 

What is the risk factors affecting slipped disk?

There are factors that may increase the possibility of having slipped disk and these are the following.

  • Age.  People in middle age particularly between the age of 35 and 45 are the most frequently prone to slipped disk.
  • Weight.  Being overweight or obese may add more pressure on the disks located in the lower back.
  • Job.  People with occupation that are physically demanding like the insistent pulling, lifting, pushing, bending twisting and sideways have a greater possibility of having slipped disk.

 

What are the slipped disk treatments?

 

The following are the slipped disk treatments that can greatly help to improve the symptoms.

1.     Over-the-counter pain medicines.

Over-the-counter pain medications can be taken if your pain can be considered as mild to moderate like the acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen.  Just don’t take large doses of acetaminophen for it may damage the liver.

 

 

 

 

2.     Narcotic medications.

Narcotic medications may be recommended by the doctors if the pain does not get better with the over-the-counter medications.  Possible adverse effects of these drugs are nausea, sedation, confusion and constipation.

 

 

 

 

3.     Nerve pain medications.

Nerve pain medications like pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine, amitriptyline and tramadol frequently help to alleviate the pain of the damaged nerve.  These medications are being progressively first prescribed by the doctors to the people with slipped disk than narcotic drugs because they have milder side effects.

 

 

 

 

4.     Muscle relaxants.

Muscle relaxants may also be prescribed by the doctor if the person with slipped disk has limb or back spasm.  Example of muscle relaxants are cyclobenzapine and diazepam.  The frequent side effects of these medicines are dizziness and sedation.

 

 

 

 

 

5.     Cortisone injections.

Corticosteroids that use to eliminate inflammation may be given through injection directly into the region around the spinal nerves with the use of spinal imaging to more carefully direct the needle.

 

 

 

 

 

Physical therapy can also be an option as one of the slipped disk treatment.  There are exercises and positions intended to reduce the pain of slipped disk.  Surgical procedure may also be recommended by the doctor if the symptoms did not improve after having treatment done.  Do not hesitate to consult your doctor if you are having concern with slipped disk.

One thought on “5 Slipped Disk Treatments

  1. Cialis

    When someone writes an article he/she retains the idea of a user in his/her mind that how a user can know it. So that’s why this paragraph is outstdanding. Thanks!

    Reply

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