4 Effective Treatments for a Herniated Disc

A herniated disc happens when pressure is placed on your spine that causes the inter-vertebral discs to compress unevenly. This causes the discs to bulge outward. Your discs are essentially composed of two layers. The outer layer is firm and thick, the inner layer is soft and gel-like. If the problem causing the disc to bulge is not alleviated, it may result in a full disc herniation. When this happens, the inner layer of the disc actually pushes through the outer layer. Bulging or herniated discs can be quite painful because as the disc pushes out from the spine, it can put pressure on the nerves around the spine, such as the sciatic nerve, and cause a significant amount of pain. Here are a few things you can do to help with a herniated disc. The first is painkillers. I know that painkillers are really only covering up the pain without taking care of the underlying problem, but sometimes you just need to reduce the pain you’re experiencing in order to get through the day. What is important though is to avoid using painkillers that are NSAID’s (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) like aspirin or ibuprofen. These can actually cause internal bleeding and other serious problems if they are used long-term. Instead, try using natural painkillers that rely on what are called systemic enzymes. Not only do these help relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but they are also much safer for your health in the long run. Another thing you can do is get physical therapy or do exercises to help strengthen the muscles in the torso and back. One of the reasons that a disc might bulge or herniate is because there is too much pressure on it. Oftentimes, you can reduce the pressure on your spine by making sure that the muscles in your back and torso are strong and can support your spine. This will allow you to stand taller, have better posture, and take a lot of pressure of your inter-vertebral discs. You may also want to consider inversion therapy. It may seem strange to hang upside-down, but the act of using an inversion table can significantly reduce the pressure on your spine and back. When you do inversion therapy, it is important to take it slowly and work your way up to a full inversion. The benefits are not only a decrease in back pain, but also better circulation and general benefits from stretching and aerobic exercise. As a last resort, surgery may be necessary. But surgery should always be considered only after other means have been properly considered and tested without any results. One common surgical procedure is called a discectomy, where the herniated disc is removed from the spine completely. This type of surgery can be very extreme, and many people that experience back pain surgery for similar conditions report that their pain did not improve in the long run.