He or she will help coordinate your care with other disciplines, such as physical therapy or chiropractic, prescribe medications if they are needed, and stay on top of your condition to be certain a medical procedure is not necessary.
Physical therapy can make a big difference in relieving your symptoms, improving strength in your core muscles, increasing flexibility, and avoiding further injury and pain. The therapist will teach you important exercises that you can continue at home.
Examples of medications that may be prescribed include opiate pain relievers such as hydrocodone or oxycodone, pain patches such as lidocaine or fentanyl, prescription strength anti-inflammatory agents, such as high dose ibuprofen, and muscle relaxers such as cyclobenzaprine or Metaxalone.
Commonly done procedures are called laminectomy, laminotomy, and microdiscectomy. Each procedure involves slightly differently methods to correct disc problems, depending on the location and extent of the damage.
Do not continue to take over-the-counter medications with prescription strength medications, unless your doctor specifically tells you to do so. Combining over-the-counter drugs with prescribed pain medications, anti-inflammatory agents, and muscle relaxers can be dangerous.
Avoid activities that can aggravate your condition, especially bending over and lifting and any twisting type of movement. Move slowly, and stop any activity if you feel pain. Pursue physical therapy that will include specific types of exercise to improve your condition.
Apply ice to the area for five minutes every hour. By the third or fourth hour, you should notice some relief. Continue to use the ice on the area of the bulging disc first, then you may also apply ice to any other affected areas, like painful nerves down your leg. Follow your doctor or therapist’s advice on how long, and how often, to continue the ice applications.
Natural sources for calcium and vitamin D include dairy products, green, leafy vegetables, and fortified orange juice. Your body also absorbs vitamin D from being exposed to natural sunlight. [13] X Research source
To improve your balance, stand in a doorway, raise one leg high, bend your raised knee so your thigh is parallel to the floor. Hold that position for 20 seconds, then repeat with the other leg. Hold onto the wall or doorway if you need, but eventually you will be able to maintain the position without additional support. [16] X Research source Improve your overall alignment by standing one foot length away from a wall, then lean back until your buttocks and your back are against the wall. Keeping your head level, push it back until the back of your head touches the wall. Most people find they must tilt their chin up to get their head to touch the wall, which indicates poor posture. Push your head back as far as you can while keeping it level. Hold this position for 20 seconds. Eventually, your head should reach the wall, without the unwanted tilt. [17] X Research source
Several types of active chairs are available. A few examples include a Zenergy Ball Chair, Swopper Stool, Wobble Stool, Rockin’ Roller Desk Chair, and Humanscale Freedom Saddle Seat. Although these chairs may be beneficial, keep in mind that it is also important to get up and move around now and then. Try setting a timer to remind yourself to get up for a couple of minutes for every hour that you sit.
By softly bouncing for about five minutes each day, you improve the blood flow to the discs, bringing added nutrients and oxygen to the area. This provides for reduced inflammation, pain relief, and may help to prevent further problems.
Keep in mind that everyone is different. Some people may respond best to back flexion exercises, while other people may respond best to back extension exercises. If you find that your back pain increases during any of these exercises, stop doing them immediately and see your doctor or physical therapist. Find some exercise that you like to do and be consistent with it. [20] X Expert Source Karen Litzy, PT, DPTPhysical Therapist Expert Interview. 27 August 2020.
You can receive traction therapy at your chiropractor’s office or physical therapy office, or use a home inverted traction unit. An economical choice for home therapy is a simple back stretcher with three levels of adjustment.
Back pain that occurs when you urinate, severe pain and muscle spasms deep in your back, or loss of control of your bladder or bowel function warrants immediate medical attention.
