Impact of Herniated Discs

Posted on April 5, 2012 by LoriDawson

Anyone who has a cervical herniated disc knows how severely it impacts life and daily activities. The extent of the impact depends on which disc is herniated, how much damage the disc has suffered and what treatment options are being utilized to help with the pain. The impact of herniated discs, particularly C4, C5, C6 and C7 can be devastating.

Impact of Herniated DiscsDisc Pain

The discs between the vertebrae in the back are numbered to allow doctors identify them and refer to them. The following discs are the ones that have the most painful effect when herniated. The disc is followed by the areas of the body that are most effected when damaged.

  • C4-C5: This herniated disc affects the C5 nerve root, when this occurs, the deltoid muscle that is located in the upper arm can become weak. There may be associated shoulder pain when the C5 nerve root is damaged from a hernia on the C4-C5 disc. This damage does not typically result in any tingling or numbness in the location.
  • C5-C6: When this disc is herniated or otherwise damage, the C6 nerve root is affected which causes the extensor muscles in the wrists and the biceps to become weak. Cervical disc hernias typically occur at the C5-C6 disc. There may be a tingling numbness that travels the nerve to the side of the hand which has the thumb.
  • C6-C7: This is another common area for cervical disc hernias to occur and causes the C7 nerve root to be the pathway for pain. The muscles that are in the back of the upper arm that extends all the way to the forearm, known as the triceps, can become weak, as can the extensor muscles in the fingers. If numbness and tingling are present, they, along with the pain, travel down the nerve root to the middle finger.
  • C7-T1: Hernias that are located on this disc affect the C8 nerve root. The path of the nerve sends the pain, tingling and numbness down the entire arm on the pinky finger side of the hand.

These are typical patterns of pain and associated symptoms that occur in the various locations of the herniated disc. The location of the pain is the indicating factor that determines what part of life is impacted the most.

Life Altering Pain

Herniated discs are one of the leading causes of back injury leading to disability. The pain that radiates from the disc down through the lower part of the body can become so intense that everyday activities are difficult to face.
If the herniated disc is one of the lower discs that impacts nerve roots that reach the lower part of the torso the pain can cause normal activities such as the following to be painful, if not impossible:

  • Walking: The pressure exerted on the spine and the weight of the body being supported by the lower torso can be impossible to bear when the disc is placing intense pressure on the nerve root. This can make the person with this pain become bed ridden and need assistance simply moving from one place to another. Some people with this pain may be able to retain mobility with the use of accessibility tools such as walkers, canes and scooters.
  • Bending: If the disc damage doesn’t prevent walking but is pressing on the nerve roots that affect the lower torso, it may be difficult to bend at the waist. Mobility may not be a complete problem; however, lifting grocers, the grandchildren or anything that involves bending may be impossible. This can make it difficult to perform certain job requirements and thus prevent the person from working.
  • Arms and Upper Body: If the herniated disc is one that sends the pain and tingling to the upper body, including the arms and down to the fingers, the affects can be very detrimental. Pain in the upper arms can make it difficult to lift the arms, use them to carry things, perform work duties and even write. Daily activities such as dressing, brushing hair and teeth and even eating can become painful if not completely impossible due to weakness.
  • Body Functions: If the herniated disc is pressing on certain nerves and these nerves cause certain muscles to become extremely weak, the loss of bowel and bladder function can become impaired. This is a dangerous condition and should be immediately reported to a doctor.

These are just some of the examples of how a herniated disc can impact life and change daily activities. Mild cases of disc bulging can simple make certain activities difficult while sever cases can cause complete loss of independence. Starting a treatment program as soon as the disc pain is noticed can help prevent the pain from becoming debilitating and allow normal activities to continue for longer.

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Degenerative Disc Treatment

Posted on March 28, 2012 by LoriDawson

Degenerative Disc TreatmentDegenerative disc disease is a painful condition that covers a myriad of back conditions that involve the spinal column and discs that are located between the vertebrae. As people age, the discs in their bodies age as well and begin to weaken; however, not all people will suffer from pain with disc degeneration. There are, however, many people who have severe pain that is due to various disc issues that are all covered under the broad term of degenerative disc. There are many different options available for degenerative disc treatment and the one that is used will depend on how severe the disc damage is and how much pain is involved.

Aging and Discs

Aging brings with it a host of health ailments and the chances of having degenerative discs will increase as a person gets older. Many of the ailments that are associated with aging are also responsible for disc degeneration, such as osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, arthritis and spondylitis. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis is particularly devastating to the spine and one of the leading causes of degenerative discs.

Osteoarthritis causes swelling in the vertebrae which in turn causes the discs to be compressed which in turn causes severe pain. The body has a natural ability to attempt to heal itself and in the process of attempting to heal the swelling, small calcium stones are created which cause intense pain and decreases the ability of the spine to move. This is when treatment options for degenerative discs become important to consider.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for degenerative discs depend on what is causing the problem. Some of the more common options for treating this condition are explained below. A back doctor will be able to provide complete information on the options available once the cause has been determined.

Medications: There are many different medications that are available for treating osteoarthritis, some over the counter and some prescription. Medications may be prescribed that work to reduce the swelling caused by the arthritis which in turn reduces the pressure on the spine. Other medications may be used strictly to treat the pain. The level of pain will determine the strength of the pain killer. Some people are able to take an over the counter pain medication while other people may be in more severe pain and need a prescription pain medication that is much stronger.

Steroids may be prescribed to be taken orally or by injection. Steroids should not be taken for long periods of time due to the negative side effects they have on the body; however, they are useful in treating the arthritis when it is severe.

Hyaluronic acid is another medical injection option that is new to the field of osteoarthritis. This injection has been shown to stimulate the body to make other cells in the body that will form new cartilage. The medical studies on this injection lead doctors to believe that it will help provide lubrication to the discs between the vertebrae in the spinal column. This treatment should be discussed with doctors as a possible option to help manage pain.

Exercise is another way to manage the pain of osteoarthritis in multiple ways. Keeping the bones moving increases flexibility and helps reduce pain while at the same time maintaining a healthy weight which reduces the amount of pressure on the spine.

Alternative Treatments: Many people turn to non-traditional options for treating osteoarthritis such as acupuncture, deep muscle massage, and heat therapy. These forms of treatment have been shown to provide relief from the pain without the side effects that medication can have on the body. Often these therapies are combined with other therapies or with each other to create a treatment plan that works to ease the pain.

Home treatment options can be used that are not medically proven but at the same time can provide some pain relief. Many people use moist heating pads when the pain is intense. The moist heat seems to provide pain relief and doesn’t require a prescription or have side effects. Other people use herbal teas for relaxation and say that it helps relax the back as well.

Surgery for Degenerative Disc

Surgical options for degenerative discs are only considered when the discs are damaged and other treatment options are not working to provide cessation of pain. There are several surgeries that can either remove the bulge from the disc or remove the disc in its entirety. These are invasive procedures that are not guaranteed to work and have long recovery times. These options are typically the last resort when all other options have failed.

Degenerative disc treatment largely depends on what is causing the disc problems, such as osteoarthritis or any other health conditions that can cause disc damage. Treatment options should be discussed with the doctor and the best one chosen that is the least invasive and then progress to stronger treatment as the disc worsens.

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Chiropractic Treatment for Herniated Disc

Posted on March 21, 2012 by LoriDawson

Chronic back pain can be detrimental to everyday living. The simplest tasks can be treacherous chores for people who are in constant pain due to a herniated disc and yet pain medications often make it difficult to function normally. Chiropractic treatment for herniated discs is an alternative pain relief option that has proven successful for many people.

Chiropractic Treatment for Herniated DiscWhat is a Herniated Disc?

In order to understand how chiropractic treatment works to relieve the pain associated with a herniated disc, it is helpful to understand what the herniated disc. Herniated discs are also known as bulging discs or slipped discs and are the source of intense pain.

Discs are found in between the vertebrae and act as cushions to protect the vertebrae from rubbing against each other during movement. The discs have a soft center encased by a harder outer ring. The discs are nourished by blood and fluid that pass through during movement. If there is a problem or condition that causes the discs not to receive this nourishment, the discs can dry out and become weak. This weakening can lead to bulges on the disc that presses against the spinal column and cause pain. This condition is a herniated disc.

What is Chiropractic Medicine?

Chiropractic medicine is a form of medical treatment that deals specifically with the musculoskeletal system and in particular the spine. Chiropractic medicine’s primary technique and procedures involve manipulating joints and soft tissue, particularly around the spine through the use of manual adjustments. Chiropractors stress the addition of exercise and healthy living in addition to the manipulations. These manual adjustments help to relieve the subluxations that are thought to be the cause of every illness and pain in the body. This is also thought to be true of treating herniated discs.

Treatment Options

There are multiple options for relieving the pain of a herniated disc that doctors can choose. The ultimate goal is to relieve the pressure that is being exerted on the nerves in the spine that are causing the pain. The choice of treatment typically depends on the intensity of the pain. Doctor’s tend to prefer to less invasive treatment options and only progress as the pain increases.

Chiropractic treatment for herniated discs is one of the less invasive options that doctor’s can choose. Chiropractors identify the problems that lead to herniated discs such as vertebrae that have moved out of their normal position. This, called subluxation, can lead to a loss of the nourishment that the discs need in order to remain healthy. Subluxation causes inflammation of the disc and intense pain due the pressure it places on the spine. Subluxation can lead to pain in the lower back that radiates throughout the lower portion of the body.

Once a chiropractor has identified the subluxation, they can start therapeutic sessions to help put the vertebrae back in alignment. Once the vertebrae are back in its natural state of alignment, the pain will go away as the swelling of the disc subsides. This may take more than one alignment and the chiropractor may also suggest additional sessions to ensure the spine remains aligned.

Chiropractic treatment for herniated discs is becoming one of the favored methods of treating back pain caused by bulging discs without the use of powerful painkillers that have unpleasant side effects or invasive surgeries that often don’t work.

Chiropractic medicine has many advantages over the use of anti-inflammatory medicines, narcotic pain killers and the many other unpleasant medications and injections that people with herniated discs often endure. Chiropractic sessions have no unpleasant side effects, only the relief of pain associated with bulging discs.
If chiropractic sessions do not relieve the pain of the hernia, the doctor will most likely suggest moving to other treatment options that are also non-invasive. Such options include:

  • Massage therapy
  • Heat therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Medications – these are often not used until the pain is unbearable unless the patient requests them. There are various medications that can be prescribed such as pain medications, steroids, anti-inflammatory and even injections for numbing the area.

The goal of chiropractic treatment for the herniated disc is to prevent the use of invasive treatment such as surgery. If the hernia is severe, the doctor may suggest adding some of the other less invasive options, such as those described above. These may simply be needed to increase the pain relief and sped up the healing process.

Early Treatment

In order to get the most relief from chiropractic treatment, the sessions need to begin as soon after the hernia is discovered as possible. Early treatment is the key to success with chiropractic procedures for bulging discs. The vertebrae that are out of place need to be realigned quickly so that the discs don’t continue to deteriorate further and cause more damage and pain.

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