how to rehab torn disc in back

What are the symptoms of a ruptured disc?

Depending on the severity of the torn disc, various treatment methods exist to help alleviate symptoms. In many cases, a torn disc can be treated at home through simple techniques such as heat and cold therapy, stretching, and exercise. Other treatment alternatives include massage therapy and acupuncture.

How to heal a herniated disc naturally?

Many patients with a torn disc try physical therapy and if that fails they often try epidural steroid injections. However, none of this promotes healing, as the high dose steroids used can inhibit healing and cause disc degeneration.

How long for herniated disc to heal without surgery?

Stem Cell Therapy: Is an excellent treatment option for a torn disc/dicogenic low back pain. If you have a torn disc you may be good candidates for regenerative stem cell therapy, a less invasive healing option. Stem cells taken from your body’s bone marrow can help seal a torn disc and reduce low back pain.

How do you fix a herniated disc?

Ice and heat therapy — Applying cold packs to the affected area in 20-minute intervals at the onset of symptoms may help reduce pain and inflammation. Heat in the form of heating pads or a warm bath may help ease muscle tension, but might be best incorporated several days after torn disc symptoms have developed.

How do you fix a torn disc in your back?

Nonsurgical treatment may include:Rest. One to 2 days of bed rest will usually help relieve back and leg pain. ... Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain.Physical therapy. ... Epidural steroid injection.

Does a torn disc ever heal?

A ruptured disc causes severe low back pain and, sometimes, shooting pain down the back of the legs, which is known as sciatica. Usually the symptoms of a disc rupture heal on their own after a few weeks to a month. If the problem persists for months and becomes chronic, you may choose to eventually consider surgery.

How long do torn discs take to heal?

The average amount of time it takes for a herniated disk to heal is four to six weeks, but it can get better within a few days depending on how severe the herniation was and where it occurred. The biggest factor in healing a herniated disk is time, because most often it will resolve on its own.Feb 14, 2020

Can discs in your back repair themselves?

It is a little known fact that spinal discs are capable of repairing themselves. This is not something most people are told when they visit their doctors for things like degenerative disc disease, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and bulging, herniated, or slipped discs.Jan 2, 2017

Is walking good for herniated disc?

Absolutely. Walking is an excellent choice for patients with herniated discs, as it stimulates blood flow and oxygen to the cells. It also helps keep your discs hydrated, which is important for healing. Other low-impact aerobic activities to try are swimming and cycling.Jan 14, 2019

Can a herniated disc paralyze you?

With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs. A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis.

What causes a tear in your disc?

Disc tears are part of the degenerative disc disease cascade. They can occur naturally or because of a traumatic impact on the disc from repetitive exercises, lifting or for example an auto accident. When you experience a disc tear, this can lead to extremely painful symptoms and back pain.Jan 12, 2021

Can slip disc be cured without surgery?

Most people with a slipped disc in the lumbar region of their spine (lower back) are offered “conservative” treatment, meaning that the treatment does not involve surgery. This mainly involves exercise, relaxation and positioning, painkillers or local anesthetics, and manual and physical therapy.Apr 9, 2020

What is the fastest way to heal a herniated disc?

How to heal a herniated disc quicklyAlternate applying heat and cold.Stay as active as you can. Take walks to avoid becoming too stiff from resting too often.Try alternative treatments like acupuncture, massage, or chiropractic.Jan 27, 2022

Can a chiropractor fix a bulging disc?

Yes! Chiropractic care is the preferred treatment method for many patients suffering from a bulging disc. It is non-invasive and does not require drugs or injections of any kind. Chiropractic can help provide you with improved mobility, decreased pain, and overall better quality of life.Feb 16, 2020

When should you have disc surgery?

Your doctor might recommend surgery as an option for your herniated disc if: Your symptoms have lasted at least 6 weeks and make it hard to do your normal activities, and other treatments haven't helped. You need to get better quickly because of your job or to get back to your other activities as soon as possible.

Can a herniated disc heal after 6 months?

Long-standing evidence suggests that pain associated with a herniated disc often diminishes without surgery within 4-6 months. In fact, 80% of herniated discs get better on their own, without the need for surgery - and improve about 3 months after the onset of leg pain.Dec 20, 2016

How to Diagnose Torn Disc Low Back Pain?

For a patient suffering from low back pain, it is essential to get the most accurate and thorough diagnosis, in order to select the best treatment options for a torn disc patient. An MRI is a significant diagnostic tool that allows the physician to observe any abnormalities or changes in the spine and the disc.

Non-Operative Treatment

Medications: anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers and, on rare occasions narcotic medications

Least Invasive Procedures

Once conservative measures have been exhausted, and the patient is still in considerable pain after 6 months, then a least invasive procedure may be recommended. The treatment options for a torn disc have shown good results in minimizing and alleviating pain altogether in some cases:

Assessing a Herniated Disc

Finding a disc herniation on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan does not automatically mean that you will be in pain. However, this issue can lead to a variety of symptoms.

Pinched Nerves

In many cases, a disc herniation will pinch or compress against an adjacent spinal nerve. When this occurs, the resulting pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness will typically spread into the extremities (the arms for a cervical herniation or the legs for a lumbar or thoracic herniation).

Physical Therapy for a Herniated Disc

After you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc by your doctor and therapy has been deemed appropriate, it is important to find a PT experienced in treating this type of condition.

First 24-48 Hours

The first 24 to 48 hours after a disc herniation are often the most painful, and you may be afraid of making your condition even worse. While it is normal to be fearful, your physical therapist will typically educate you on the importance of staying active and avoiding bed rest.

Ongoing Treatment

Once you are through the acute phase of a disc herniation, your therapist will typically focus on progressing your initial home program.

Herniated Disc Exercises

A disc herniation can occur in several different directions and in any of the 23 individual spinal discs. Because of this, the program that a therapist provides is unique to your specific condition.

Physical Therapy Following Surgery

The physical therapy that you receive following spinal surgery is similar to the treatments described above, although there are a few unique differences.

Why does my disc hurt?

Torn disc. There are a few names for the painful condition that occurs when a disc’s “jelly-like nucleus pushes against its outer ring due to wear and tear or a sudden injury,” said the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

What does it mean when you have sciatica pain?

The word “sciatica” tends to strike fear in those who have previously suffered from the ailment or those who have heard horror stories about searing pain in the upper buttock, weakness in the leg, and pins and needles or numbness all the way down the path of the sciatic nerve. The symptoms of sciatica result “from an irritated or compressed sciatic nerve,” said DISC Spine Institute. “They may be described as dull, sharp, burning, aching or stabbing, and may worsen as you are sitting for an extended amount of time or if you are laughing, sneezing or coughing. Walking may also aggravate the situation.”

What is Cauda Equina Syndrome?

Cauda equina syndrome is a serious medical condition that can be devastating if not treated immediately. It typically requires surgical intervention to relieve compression on the roots of the spinal nerve. Fast treatment can help prevent permanent damage, which could lead to incontinence and permanent leg paralysis.

Can walking cause sciatica?

Walking may also aggravate the situation.”. Sciatica pain is often the tipoff to a disc problem, and is also the most common symptom of a torn disc in the lower back. “Treatments for sciatica depend on the underlying reason for the nerve irritation,” said DISC Spine Institute.

Can a torn disc cause pain?

Not only can torn discs cause extreme discomfort on their own, which typically manifests as lower back pain, but they can also lead to debilitating and potential ly dangerous conditions.

What is a herniated disc?

A herniated disc is when that gel-like material ruptures through the outer layer of disc, and can press on the spinal cord or spinal nerves, resulting in symptoms, including disabling back pain and other associated symptoms that can make everyday activities difficult to perform. [2]

What exercise program is used for herniated lumbar disc?

According to this Clinical Evaluation and Treatment Options for Herniated Lumbar Disc “The McKenzie exercise program is believed to be one of the most beneficial. This program is individualized to the patient’s symptoms and emphasizes exercises that minimize or centralize radiating pain.” [5]

How to get rid of a swollen thigh?

How to do it. – Begin this exercise by standing up with good posture. Now take both hands and place them on both sides of your lower back. Now with the help of your hands push your pelvis forward and extend your spine back. Follow the extension with your neck so that you end up facing the ceiling.

How to reduce pain in lower back?

Physical therapy – performing specific exercises to increase range of motion and strengthen muscles in your lower back and core may help to relieve pain and reduce your chance of re-injuring yourself. Spinal manipulation – manipulation of the joints of the lower back may help to improve range of motion and decrease pain.

How long does leg pain last?

Often this pain will last for a few days and then subside, but leg pain, numbness or tingling, and/or weakness of the lower extremity often follows. Typically the leg pain eventually travels below the knee and can even affect the ankle and foot.

Where does disc herniation occur?

Disc herniation most commonly occurs in the lower back (lumbar spine) and involves the displacement of disc material beyond the inter-vertebral disc space. [2] In the most simple terms, the spine is made up of individual vertebrae stacked on top of each other. Between each vertebrae is an intervertebral disc that provides a cushion so ...

What is the condition of lumbar disc herniation?

IMPORTANT: An extremely rare symptom of lumbar disc herniation is the loss of bowel or bladder control, which may signal that a more serious problem is lurking – cauda equina syndrome. This syndrome results from compression of the spinal nerve roots and is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

How to tell if a disc is bulging?

What are the Symptoms of a Bulging Disc in the Lumbar Spine? 1 At times NO symptoms at all. [2] [7] 2 General Low back pain. [4] 3 Pain can travel down the leg if it pinches on a nerve. [4] 4 Decreased lumbar lordosis (lower back curvature becomes flattened). [6] 5 Muscle spasm [4]

What is a bulging disc?

To understand what a bulging disc is, we must first understand the anatomy of the spine. Put simply, the spine is made up of individual vertebrae stacked on top of each other. Between each vertebrae is an intervertebral disc that provides a cushion so the vertebrae don’t rub together. The discs between the vertebrae, ...

What is the best exercise to strengthen your core?

Exercise #5: Plank – To Strengthen Core/Abs. A strong core will protect the spine and improve one’s posture. Therefore this exercise is great at targeting those deep core muscles. ● Begin lying on your stomach with your forearms against the mat.

Does a bulging disc hurt?

[1] [3] * It is important to note that a bulging disc doesn’t always touch the nerves , and for many a bulged disc doesn’t even produce any pain at all. [2] [7] However, it could progress ...

Can you reverse a bulging disc?

Leon’s Notes: There’s some research showing that a bulging disc can in fact be reversed with exercise and posture modifications. Meaning you could actually push back the disc material, so it doesn’t bulge. With most bulging discs in the lower back, you want to try an extension based exercise program (Mckenzie method is a popular one). [5] .