08 May Slipped or Herniated Disc:
Spinal discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae to which they are bonded. Think of the discs as circular pads of cartilage that lie between the bones of your spine, that absorbs any impact when you walk or run. The discs are made from a fibrous case that contain a soft gel-like substance.
A herniated or slipped disc occurs when the outer part “the case” of the disc raptures and the gel substance spill in between the vertebrae. The damaged disc will put pressure on the spine and may compress a spinal nerve, causing pain in the area where the hernia occurred and to the parts of the body controlled by the compress nerve.
A slipped disc can occur in various situations such as trauma and over loading of the spine, incorrect sitting position, being overweight, heavy smoking, not exercising regularly and incorrectly lifting heavy objects, to name a few. Although this condition can affect everyone, it is more commonly seen in men in their mid-thirties to their mid-fifty’s.
People who suffer from a slipped disc may experience the following symptoms:
- Discomfort when bending or twisting at the waist,
- Discomfort or pain whilst trying to lift an object.
- The pain and discomfort can disrupt sleeping patterns.
- Pain in other areas of the body:
A slipped disc can cause discomfort to the nerves surrounding the spine which can result in severe pain to the affected area and pain in other parts of the body away from the affected area, such as buttocks and legs. - Numbness in the extremities:
Experiencing numbness in the arms and legs, along with an electric shock type of pain shooting past the elbow and knees is an indicator of a slipped disc with neurological symptoms. - Pain on one side of the back:
Feeling pain and discomfort on only side of the back is highly likely. As the slipped disc will move slight to the left or right of spine, causing complications to that side of the lower back.
If you exhibit any of these signs or symptoms you should consult your doctor or an osteopath for a clear diagnosis.
An osteopath will advise you on effective stretches and rehabilitation exercises that are safe for you to perform, whilst focusing on core strengthening. They will also be able to relieve the muscular pain and discomfort by administering gentle manipulation techniques and soft tissue massage. Anti-inflammatory and pain medication can be taken in conjunction with osteopathic interventions to help reduce any inflammation. In extremely severe cases where manual therapy is unsuccessful, surgery may be required. Osteovision has a patient focused referral pathway with pain specialists and orthopaedic surgeons who will give you the guidance on your condition.
Osteopathy is one of the best ways to non-surgically manage and treat a slipped disc. An osteopath will look for reason as to why the hernia occurred and help improve the muscular structure to prevent re-injury. Osteopathy follows a holistic approach when treating patients and aims to return patients to their normal health and function as quickly as possible.
Here at OsteoVision our team are expects in treating the musculoskeletal system. Each patients’ treatment plan is unique and specific depending on your diagnosis, age, and fitness level; and includes soft tissue techniques, joint manipulation, and joint articulation to help relieve your pain, release tension, improve functionality.
Contact us to discuss your symptoms and a member of our team will be there to assist you.
email: info@osteovision.life
call: 03303 904 300
you may also book an appointment online at www.osteovision.life