For pain relief from a herniated or bulging disc, acupuncture, massage, and Acupressure are all options. These treatments should always be discussed with a practitioner in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This title might seem confusing. While complementary medicine and alternative medicine follow similar principles, they differ in the fact that complementary treatments can be used alongside traditional medicine.
Traditional acupuncturists use very thin needles to insert in specific points on your meridians. This is done to open up Chi channels, also known as meridians.
Other methods may offer more comfort and less pain. These are some options to help with a herniated disc.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, believes that everyone has an energy force called Chi. If the Chi is not balanced or blocked, your body may experience pain and illness. Traditional acupuncturists insert thin needles into specific points along your meridians. This is done to open up Chi channels, also known as meridians.
Based on your diagnosis, the practitioner may place multiple needles. These needles are typically left in place for 20-40 minutes.
Endorphins may be released in the bloodstream by acupuncture. Your body’s natural pain relievers, endorphins can also be called your body’s pain killers. They reduce pain perception.
Gate Control Theory may also be a factor in the effectiveness and pain relief of acupuncture. The nerves can only handle a limited number of signals simultaneously so pain signals travel slowly from the injury site up to the spinal cord and then to the brain. Acupuncture produces faster signals, which crowd out slower-moving pain signals, and so blocks out the pain.
Acupressure: Acupressure is very similar to acupuncture. Both ancient methods restore energy flow to the body through stimulation of certain meridian point. Acupressure doesn’t use needles. Instead, it relies on your fingers, hands, and elbows to apply pressure. Anyone can use acupressure, however it is not recommended for pregnant or high blood pressure patients.
Regular massage can help with chronic low back pain. Massage is a technique that involves manipulating the back tissues. This includes stroking, kneading, and manipulating them. This increases blood circulation which gives your muscles more oxygen and nutrients. Additional blood can help to eliminate waste products that may build up over time.
Massage is safe and effective, even though it’s not a proven treatment for herniated discs. If you have conditions like osteoporosis, deep vein thrombosis, or other health issues, massage may not be the best choice.
There are more than 100 types of massage. A Swedish massage, for example, uses long strokes to reach the superficial layers of your muscles. Deep tissue massage uses slower pressure and direct pressure to ease muscular tension and soothe the deep layers. Your massage therapist can help you choose the right massage for you to reduce pain.
Before you start any new medical program, inform your doctor if there are any other conditions that could be causing the herniated disc pain. These treatments are most effective when they are combined with traditional medicine.
How to treat herniated discs
Consume a Collagen/Bone Broth diet
Your body must first receive the nutrients it needs to heal the area. The “collagen diet” is what I recommend. Your body needs collagen to heal and repair discs and tissues. Collagen can be found in bone broth or bone soup liquid protein powder.
Consuming bone broth on a regular basis is the best thing that you can do. Drinking bone broth on an ongoing basis is the best dietary tip. You can either make your own bone broth, or buy frozen liquid bone broth online. It may be available at your local grocery shop. For treatment of herniated discs, it is important to consume two to three meals per day.
A large pot of soup in the crockpot is a great idea every day. Combine chicken, celery, and carrots in a chicken broth. This will provide you with the nutrients you need to heal your stiff neck or low back. Blueberries and other high-antioxidant fruits can help you obtain more antioxidants. This is the best diet to treat herniated discs.
Breakfast: A smoothie with collagen protein powder or bone broth protein, blueberries, coconut milk, and possibly other anti-inflammatory herbs like ginger root.
Soup/stew made with bone broth, for lunch/dinner
Consume Beneficial Supplements
The best supplements for healing a herniated disc are a collagen protein or bone broth protein powder. These include the amino acids glutamine, glycine, and proline. These amino acids are vital for the production of collagen and the healing of damaged tissue.
These supplements may also be helpful in the treatment of herniated discs
- Supplement with Omega-3 fish oils — 1,000 to 2,000 mg daily — or fish roe
- MSM Supplement, which is a supplement rich in sulfur, helps with joint repair
- Glucosamine, chondroitin
- Curcumin (curcumin), and turmeric (curcumin), both anti-inflammatory herbs, help to heal and repair damaged tissue.
Practice Egoscue
Lifestyle changes can be made to heal herniated discs. Egoscue can be one of these. Egoscue is a type of physical therapy. It is however not the same as other forms of physical therapy. Egoscue can be used to help improve your posture. Egoscue is necessary to treat herniated discs. Make sure you look for Egoscue in your area. An Egoscue practitioner can prescribe an exercise program tailored to your needs. This will improve your posture and prevent you from developing a herniated disc. Seek out an Egoscue practitioner.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is a form of regenerative medicine that I also highly recommend. Prolotherapy involves the use of platelet rich plasma injections (PRP) to heal damaged tissue.
A ligament injury or lower back pain can often cause disc herniation. The ligaments become loose. This is similar to when your ACL is injured or torn. The ligaments may then become weaker and the muscles will need to compensate. Spasms may result which can lead to pain. Most often, pain from a herniated disc is not caused by the disc herniation. This is more likely to be caused by nerve-root compression in muscles and other tissues.
Prolotherapy should be included in your herniated disc treatment plan. It can help to restore muscle tissue. It takes between three to eight treatments to perform prolotherapy. You will see remarkable results if you follow this protocol.
Egoscue is a tool that can be used to strengthen muscles and PRP to help with the strengthening of ligaments, tendons, and ligaments. You need to train all three if you want to completely heal a herniated disc.
Corrective Chiropractic Care
For a herniated disc, corrective chiropractic care can be a great choice. Be careful when performing improper adjustments. Many chiropractors use a technique that can cause ligaments and other tissues in your body to become looser. Corrective chiropractic care corrects spinal curves.
A “military neck”, or loss of curve, can cause herniated discs. A spondylolisthesis can also cause instability in the cervical and lumbar spines. If you want to heal, you must seek corrective chiropractic treatment.
Find out more about Herniated Discs
You might be curious to know the difference between a bulging and herniated disc.
A herniated disc is more like a disc opening that spills its inners out. A bulging disc is the disc that protrudes outward. Herniated discs are also known as slip discs or ruptured discs. They are more common than bulging discs. Herniated discs are more common than bulging discs, but they can be overlooked because they cause less pain. Every person is unique.
Pressure can cause a bulging disc. This causes the disc’s to stretch. A herniated disc, on the other hand, is caused by damage to the tough outer layer of cartilage. A herniated disc is one where the disc’s inner cartilage (which is usually softer) can slip through the crack and touch the surrounding nerves. This is similar to a bulging disc.
A herniated disc can also be a sign or symptom of other problems, such as:
- Spinal stenosis
- Piriformis syndrome
- Nerve pinched
What are some Conservative Treatments Recommended by Doctors?
Natural and conservative are frequently used interchangeably in the medical world. Not all conservative treatments are natural. Conservative treatments include injections and medication to relieve inflammation and pain. There are some conservative options for mild to moderate severity.
- Medications-Ibuprofen, Motrin
- Exercise-Yoga, Pilates
- Physical therapy can be used to strengthen the back muscles.
- The heat-to reduce muscle spasms and increase blood flow
- Cold can reduce inflammation and pain sensation
- Injectable medication-Steroid injections for inflammation
Although these treatments can relieve some back pain, they do not always heal herniated discs. Most spine doctors believe the herniated disc will heal in a matter of weeks. Is conservative treatment best for long-lasting pain?
What natural remedies are available for herniated discs?
Natural treatments might be more effective than conventional ones. Let’s look at some unique treatments. These are natural treatments:
- Natural pain relief creams for pain that relieve the symptoms of traditional medication
- Inversion therapy is a way to reduce pain by creating space around the nerves and discs and taking pressure off them.
- Water and lemon juice alter the pH of blood to provide more nutrients to the disc.
- To improve your body’s healing abilities, you should change your diet.
- Reducing stress can help decrease hormone stimulation by increasing muscle contraction, inflammation, and pain.
- Losing weight can reduce the chance of a herniated disc.
- Far infrared heat penetrates deep into tissues and muscles to relieve pain
Non-medicinal natural pain relief creams are made from plants. Pain relief can be achieved using a variety of herbs. Natural pain relief creams can also be made using herbs like willow bark (which is a precursor to aspirin).
Inversion therapy is a very popular treatment. Inversion therapy changes the position of your body. Inversion therapy is a method that changes the position of your body. Inversion tables lower your head than your feet so that your head is not higher than your feet. Inversions reduce pain by relieving pressure on the spine. Inversions do not treat herniated discs.
To balance blood pH, you can mix water with lemon juice. Muscle contractions can be caused by acidic environments. This can also affect the body’s ability exchange waste products and provide nutrients to affected areas. Muscle contractions are more painful and prevent muscles from relaxing. Inhibiting the body’s natural healing process does not provide any benefit. Although water with lemon juice can be beneficial, it takes time for your body to heal. Relaxation may help reduce pain.
Even though it might not sound like the best way to heal herniated discs, increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables can help your body get all the nutrients it needs. This will not alleviate your pain.
As you probably know, stress can cause muscle tension. When there is too much stress, cortisol can be released, which is a stress hormone. Cortisol, along with other stress hormones, can increase inflammation which can lead to pain. Your cortisol levels can return to a baseline and reduce inflammation. This will help decrease your pain. It will not heal your herniated disc. It’s unlikely.
This natural treatment will decrease your chance of developing a herniated disc. It can be difficult to lose weight. It is unrealistic to think that you can lose enough weight to heal an injury or relieve the pain caused by a herniated disc.
Far-infrared heat is a powerful treatment that most people have not heard of. Normal heat can be effective in decreasing inflammation and increasing circulation, but it doesn’t penetrate deeply. Far-infrared heat penetrates deeper to the muscles and tissues below the skin. It has been proven safe and effective for treating back pain. In double-blind, placebo controlled trials, it was shown to reduce back pain by 50%. Most healthcare providers do not support this study. Although a herniated disc could cause back pain, it can heal itself. Your body may take several weeks, or even months to heal.