A herniated or ruptured disc is caused by the formation of cushion-like cartilage between the bones. A herniated disc is also sometimes called a slipped disc. It can be caused by trauma, long-term pressure, or even a disc’s gelatin-like core leaking. Most people who experience this condition are between the ages of 30-50.
Repetitive lifting, participating in weight-bearing exercise, obesity, smoking and poor posture can all lead to a herniated prox disc. Women are twice as likely to experience this condition. Physical therapy is a good option for most herniated discs. A physical therapist can design a treatment program that will help herniated disc patients regain normal mobility, reduce their pain, resume regular activities, and improve their quality-of-life.
A physical therapist can also be an expert in movement. They can enhance your quality of life through education, hands-on therapy, and prescribed movement. For a free assessment, you can contact a physical therapist directly.
What is a Herniated Disc, and what does it mean?
The spine consists of 33 vertebrae. They are stacked one on top of the other. An “intervertebral Disc”, a cushion-like piece of cartilage that lies between each vertebra, is also known as a “intervertebral.” The disc can be thought of as an ice-cream cone. The “annulus fibrosus”, also known as Af, is the rubbery substance found in the outer donut. A gelatin-like substance is used to fill the “hole” of the donut (the “nucleus pulposus”, or NP).
Because the disc is flexible and soft, it can be used by anyone younger than 30. It also absorbs shock very well. As people age, flexibility may decrease. If the spine is stretched, the outer layer of the disc (AF) can tear. The NP, a gelatinous core that is similar to gelatin, may leak through the tear. This is known as leakage. Leaking NP may seep past the spinal cord in some cases.
Herniation may be caused by many different injuries. It is possible to inflict severe injuries if someone lifts something from an unsafe position. This causes strain to the spine, causing the outer disc of the spine to burst. Sitting, standing, and stooping for long periods of inadequacy can all lead to a slow injury. Slowly straining or tearing the outer disc can cause a slow injury. The lowest place where a herniated disc is found is in the back, located just below the waist. A herniated cervical disc can also form in the neck.
How does it feel?
A bulging, herniated, or bulging disc could cause tightness, weakness, or numbness in the neck, back or arms. A bulging or leaking disc can cause pain, weakness, or even muscle paralysis if it presses onto nearby nerves. A bulging or leaking disc can cause no pain or disability as long as it doesn’t press on nerves. Herniated discs can cause pain in the neck and back. But, other conditions could be involved. You can have other conditions checked by your physical therapist.
If a bulging or herniated disc is pressing on a nerve, or the spine cord, surgery may be required. Your surgeon will work closely with your physician to determine the best treatment.
Signs and symptoms
The location and type of your symptoms will be determined by their direction and pressure on nearby nerves.
A herniated disc may not cause pain. One or more of these symptoms may be caused by a herniated disc.
- Pain in the neck and back.
- Inability to bend, turn or twist the neck and/or back.
- Numbness or tingling in the neck, shoulders or arms, hands or hips.
- Lack of strength in the legs and arms
- Walking with a limp
- Intensified pain in coughing, sneezing or reaching.
- Being unable to stand up; stuck in a certain position, such as. Passive or supportive postures are those that allow you to lean forward or tilt your head.
- Difficulty getting up from a sitting posture.
- Pain refers to a condition that makes it difficult to maintain a certain position for long periods, such as if you’re sitting or standing.
- The pain is worse the next morning.
Over-50-year-olds might experience a dry, gelatinous center in their disc (NP). This can increase its likelihood to rupture or herniate. Degenerative disc or joint diseases can result, which can lead to pain. A physical therapist will be able to diagnose the condition and coordinate with other healthcare professionals.
How does Herniated Disc become diagnosed?
Your physical therapist will complete a thorough evaluation of you, including your personal health history. Your physical therapist might ask you questions about your injury.
- How did this pain start?
- Which hour of the day is it worse?
- Which type of discomfort are your experiencing?
- What can be done to ease the pain of your day?
To identify problems with your body, your physical therapist may conduct physical tests such as:
- Moving can be difficult.
- Tightness or weakness of the muscles.
- Certain areas may experience numbness, or loss of sensation.
- The loss or dysfunction of reflexes.
- Stiffness of joints
- Poor posture.
- Difficulty walking.
Physical therapy may be recommended by your physical therapist if you exhibit any of the symptoms listed above. If more severe problems are found, your physical therapy may collaborate with a surgeon or doctor for special diagnostic testing. Physical therapists are able to work with doctors and other healthcare providers to make sure you get the diagnosis you need and the care you require.
Assessment of a Herniated Disc
But, a disc herniation detected on an MRI doesn’t always mean that you will experience pain. This could cause many symptoms. Low back pain could be caused by a herniation of the lumbar spinal cord. A herniation at the lumbar spinal nerve can lead to pain in the back, legs, or feet. You may feel weakness, pain, or tingling around your legs due to nerve compression, pinching, pinching, or pinching.
A herniated disc within the cervical spine can cause pain in the neck or spasms around the shoulder blades (scapula). The herniation may pinch a nerve and cause severe discomfort. Thoracic (mid back disc), herniation symptoms tend to be more common than they are well-known. Herniation is often accompanied by pain in the upper, lower, or abdominal areas. It can cause weakness and pain in the extremities.
Physical therapists need to do a thorough assessment because symptoms can appear in different places. Your PT will also ask you questions to determine the root cause. They might also check for injuries to your leg or arm muscles. A herniation may also be detected by the doctor’s examination of your sensations or reflexes. After getting to know you, they may be able to offer helpful treatments that will improve your pain.
Pinched Nerves
In many cases, disc injuries can pinch or compress adjacent spinal nerves. The pain, numbness and weakness that result from a disc injury can spread to the extremities (the arms or legs for a cervical herniation or the legs or lumbar herniation).
Your physical therapist will often examine your pinched nerve system to determine if it’s moving in a specific direction that causes you to feel pain in your arms or legs. This is called centralization.
Your PT can recommend which exercises to do. This is called a directional preference. Similar to the last point, activities that require you move in a particular direction may lead to pain in your extremity. This is called “perimeterization”. Avoid these types of movements when you start therapy.
Sometimes pinched nerves can cause severe pain. Traditional treatments like medication or physical therapy may not be enough to relieve the pain. These cases may require surgery to fix the pinched nerve and remove the herniated spine disc.
Pinched nerves are the most common cause of pain and tingling.
It is essential that you find a PT trained in the treatment of this condition after being diagnosed by your doctor with a herniated spine disc. This area is often well-known to an orthopedic or neurological physical therapist. The American Physical Therapy Association’s website can help you find an orthopedic or neurologic clinical specialist near you.
After you have enrolled, physical therapy sessions can help you achieve many goals. First, exercises will be performed to relieve nerve pressure. This is based on your preference for direction. Core stability exercises can be helpful in stabilizing the spine. Aerobic conditioning will increase endurance. To improve flexibility, the therapist may also assist you with stretching and manual work. It has been proven that physical therapy and pain medication can be combined to treat lumbar disc herniation.
First 24-48 hours
The worst pain after disc herniation is often felt in the first 24 to 48 hours. Although it is normal to feel anxious, your physical therapist will likely help you understand the importance and necessity for staying active. Moving around by swimming, walking or running can relieve muscle spasms. Supporting the spine is possible by core strengthening and mobility exercises. Lumbar traction can also relieve the pressure on your spine cords, and help you return to normal faster.
Permanent Treatment
After you’re done with the acute phase, the therapist will concentrate on the home section of your treatment. To strengthen your core, and to ensure strength, you’ll need to do harder exercises. To prevent potential injuries, your therapist will keep an eye on you. Additionally, early physical therapy might focus on movement and symptom centralization. Rehabilitation often involves slowing reintroducing previously irritating movements. Once your symptoms subside and you have successfully managed your condition your PT will often create an individualized treatment plan that you can follow once you are discharged.
What can a physical therapist do for you?
A herniated spine can be treated with either surgery or pain medication. However, most cases are not so severe that conservative care (such a physical therapy) is more effective than opioids. Your physical therapist will collaborate with you to devise a treatment plan. Physical therapy allows you to resume your daily activities and lifestyle. The healing process can take up to eight weeks, but you’ll see results in as little as two to eight weeks. If you are able to maintain a healthy posture, reduce pain and follow a stretching program, your condition will resolve.
These steps can be suggested by your physical therapist in the 24 hours or 48 hours following diagnosis.
- Avoid activities that can cause more severe symptoms such as swelling or pain in the arms and legs.
- Avoid bed rest.
- Do your best to keep active at home. You can take short walks each day. You will feel more lively and less stiff.
- Ice packs are applied to the areas affected for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 hours.
- Recommendations – Sit on sturdy, comfortable chairs. You can make your problems worse by using soft couches or easy chairs.
- To receive additional services, such as medication or diagnostic testing, consult your physician.
These exercises might be more useful for people with herniated distal discs. These are the skills your physical therapist can teach you. Here are some examples.
- Swimming is an excellent way to keep active even if other forms of exercise don’t work.
- A lot more twisting and bending might not be beneficial for you. Your physical therapist might create a program just for you.
- Correct weight training is important in order to prevent injury to the back or neck.
Your physical therapist can help you:
Reduce pain and other symptoms. Your physical therapist will help you to prevent or modify the injuries so that healing may begin. Your pain may be controlled and reduced using different methods of physical therapy.
Adjust your posture. Your physical therapist may determine that your poor posture caused your herniated disc. They will then instruct you on how to improve the posture of your body so that the injured area is not as pressured and healing can begin as quickly as possible.
Increase motion. Your physical therapist may recommend exercises and treatments that can help restore normal movement to your stiff joints. These could be passive signs your physical therapy makes to move the spine. You may then be able perform the exercises and stretches on your own. These movements can be done at your workplace or home to speed up healing.
You can increase your flexibility. Your physical therapist can assess your flexibility, and then help you stretch at home.
Physical therapy can help you determine the best exercises to rebuild strength slowly if you are suffering from weak muscles or injuries. “Core strengthening” can be used to treat neck or back disc herniation. It helps strengthen your body. It improves coordination of the muscles surrounding your spine, hips and pelvis.
Improve endurance. After an accident, it is important to regain your muscular endurance. Your physical therapist will help you recover your endurance and improve it.
It is possible to learn a home-based course. An exercise program that can be used at home by a physical therapist can help you strengthen, stretch or alleviate pain. These exercises can be tailored for you. These exercises will speed up your recovery, if you do them as instructed by your physical therapist.
You can go back to your usual activities. Your physical therapist will assess your activity and help you set your work, sport, and personal recovery goals. Your physical therapist will instruct you about the proper “body mechanics” (the correct ways to lift heavy items and perform tasks) to protect your spine. Your treatment program will ensure that you reach your goals in a safest and most efficient manner.
After your pain subsides, it is important to continue practicing the new positions and movements you learned. This will ensure that you have a healthy back and are pain-free.
After Surgery
Sometimes surgery may be necessary to prevent permanent damage of a nerve or the spine cord. Your surgeon can help you get back motion and strength faster than you could on your own. They will help you quickly return to your daily life safely.
Can the injury or condition be prevented
Here are some tips to help prevent a bulging disc or herniated disc.
- When lifting, pushing, pulling or any other activity that places extra stress on your spine, you should have good body mechanics.
- Maintain healthy body weight. This will help reduce stress on your spine.
- Stop smoking.
- Discuss your job with a therapist. They will be able to provide you with a detailed analysis and make suggestions on how to prevent injury.
- Keep your muscles strong, flexible, and strong. Regular exercise is essential for a healthy body.
Many clinics offer “backschools,” classes which teach patients how they can protect their necks and backs from injury. Ask your physical therapist to discuss programs in your area.
Here are some tips to help prevent a herniated-disc recurrence.
- Your back will stay healthy if you maintain the good posture and movement habits that you learned during physical therapy.
- Get active and keep fit. For your continued success, you should continue the home exercise program your physical therapist has recommended.
What kind of Physical Therapist am I looking for?
Low back pain that is caused by a herniated disc can be treated by any physical therapist. You might also be interested in these other options:
- A physical therapist that has extensive experience treating orthopedic and musculoskeletal issues.
- A board-certified clinician specialist or someone who has completed an orthopedic physical therapy fellowship. These therapists can use their extensive knowledge and experience to treat your condition.
These are some tips to help you locate a professional in physical therapy:
- Ask your family and friends for recommendations.
- Ask about the experiences of physical therapists working with patients with herniated distal if you call a clinic for physical therapy.
- Be prepared to share your symptoms and what makes them worse.
Exercises to relieve neck pain
Neck pain can be caused by a slipped disc. Pressure on the nerves can lead to neck pain. It can also cause pain down the arm. These exercises can relieve neck pain due to a slipped disc in your upper spine.
Neck stretches
This exercise can help relieve the pressure and pain that a herniated disc causes in the neck.
- Sit straight in a comfortable seat to straighten your neck.
- Move your left arm towards the left shoulder. Move the right arm toward your right shoulder.
- You can repeat this process multiple times.
Hamstring exercises
A slipped disc lower back can be helped by strengthening the hamstring muscles. This will help them support their core, back and core. Here are some hamstring exercises you can try:
Relaxing in a seated chair
You can do a gentle, seated stretch to your hamstrings.
- Place one foot on each side of the table, and the other on your floor.
- Straighten your spine, and extend your upper thigh. Do this by leaning forward.
- This position can be kept for between 15-30 second.
- Switch legs and do it again.
Towel hamstring stretch
This is a great way for you to tighten your hamstrings.
- You should lift your one-leg up while lying down on a yoga pad.
- Wrap a towel around your leg and lift it up in the air.
- As you hold the towel, move your leg towards your body and pull the towel towards yourself.
- It can be held between 15 and 30 seconds.
- Repeat this several times with the opposite leg.
Low back pain: Exercises
These exercises can reduce lower back pain and strengthen back muscles. You can prevent future injuries by giving more support.
Back flexion stretch
Back flexion exercises can be used to stretch the spine. These exercises should be done only after you have sustained a back injury. To perform a back flexion stretch:
- Be sure to keep your legs straight.
- To stretch your low back and mid-back, you can move your head forward.
- Continue the process several more times.
Reach your chest from the knees
You can stretch the muscles from one side to the other using the knee-to chest stretch. This is a gentler stretching technique. These are great:
- Lay down on your back with your knees bent.
- You can place your hands behind the knees, and then pull the other towards your chest.
- Switch legs, then do it again a few times.
Piriformis muscle stretch
The piriformis is a small muscle found in the buttock. This muscle can be also stretched.
- With your knees bent, place your heels on the floor and lay on your back.
- Cross your legs and place your ankle on the bent.
- Gently bring your crossed knee toward your chest until you feel the buttock stretch.
- You can repeat the process for both ends.
How can exercise be of assistance?
Exercises and physical therapy can assist in the recovery of a bulging disc. A doctor will recommend you take a break for several consecutive days after suffering from a bulging or herniated disc. It is possible to reduce the pressure on your spine by engaging in light activities or doing exercises that strengthen it. They can also help to prevent a herniated disc from recurring by increasing flexibility and strength.
You may be advised by your doctor to start slowly and then increase your intensity. The doctor will give you specific instructions about what to do and how to avoid it during recovery.
You can ease a herniated disc with gentle exercises:
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Walking
- Cycling
Do not bend or lift weights without slowing down and being controlled. These activities should not cause pain. If someone feels pain, they should stop the exercise and visit their doctor.
Avoid these activities
The following can cause a herniated disc: heavy lifting, sudden pressure, repeated strenuous exercise, excessive weight lifting, and repetitive, hard work. People who have a herniated disc should not engage in strenuous activities during their recovery.
It is important to avoid exercises that cause pain, or worsen it. Sciatica should not be ignored. It is possible to avoid high-impact sports like jogging, martial arts, and other strenuous activities. They can cause serious injuries to the spine. Start slow and build up to more intense exercises. This is the best method to reduce symptoms. It is possible to improve your outcome by performing exercises and stretching sooner. Before you start any exercise program, discuss your medical needs with your doctor.
Prevention
However, you can’t be certain that your spinal disc herniation will not occur. You can avoid it by taking several steps. One of the best ways to strengthen your spine is to do a strengthening program. These exercises, along with regular aerobic exercise, help stabilize the spine.
A healthy weight can reduce the strain on spinal discs. This will decrease the likelihood of herniation. Good body mechanics are important when lifting heavy objects. This includes using your legs properly and keeping your spine straight. Smoking and avoiding high-heeled shoes can reduce the risk of developing this spinal condition.
Summary
You can ease the pressure and pain caused by a herniated or slipped disc using gentle exercises and stretching. Strengthening your back muscles and your hamstrings muscles can reduce pressure on the spine.
Before doing any exercises, talk to your doctor. You will be able to ensure that your back is not injured or you aren’t causing any additional pain. A doctor can advise you on the best exercises to do depending on where the disc is located.