Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
There are not many types of persistent pain worse than that felt with back problems and injuries. One type, in particular, that’s caused by a slipped disc can be excruciating and difficult to treat. The spine is made up of spongy muscular discs that sit between the bones. When one of these slips out of place, it can cause sharp, burning pain that can often radiate out to the limbs. Depending on which disc is affected, the pain will be mostly concentrated in that area. However, many times patients experience sciatic pain and numbness in seemingly unrelated areas.
The good news is that with the help of a good medical team including specialists like a chiropractor, physical therapist, acupuncturist, etc, relief can be found. Just know that any type of chronic back pain is a cause to consult your doctor. Don’t live with symptoms and discomfort that you really shouldn’t have to deal with on your own. Additionally, here are some things you can do to bring some relief in the meantime. Please do consult your doctor before using any at-home care methods.
Hot And Cold Therapy
Alternating heat and ice on the areas of pain can help alleviate the tension around the disc, in turn relieving some of the pressure. This might be somewhat of a trial and error experiment to figure out exactly what combo helps. There are several forms of heat, including hot water bottles, hot towels, heating pads, and topical creams. Try each of them to see which one brings the most relief. Add the cold/ice treatments as they can work synergistically with the heat.
Gentle Movement
It’s no secret that a sore back can make you want to lie around and do nothing. However, doing so can actually make the pain worse as muscles tighten and atrophy. That said, this is an area that strictly needs to be monitored by your doctor if you are under care. You also have to listen to your body’s pain signals carefully. Be aware of what types of movement make you feel better and the ones that make things worse. Activities like swimming, cycling, and some types of yoga could help your body stay strong without compromising the healing process. Again, ask your doctor what type of movement would be best for your specific situation.
Get Quality Rest
It is a well-known fact that quality sleep is a pillar of healing and health. The problem with chronic back pain is that it can interrupt this process frequently. One thing you can do is prepare your bedroom in a way that promotes the best chance to get good sleep. Keep it dark, cool, and try not to use electronics before bed. You can also try adjusting your sleep positions to accommodate the painful areas. Some patients use pillows between the knees or in other areas to help to keep the spine straight and hips balanced.
Physical Therapy
In some cases, physical therapy could bring pain relief to those with a slipped disc. This, of course, has everything to do with the actual root of the injury and what type of related pain it’s causing. There are many types of PT, so this is also something that will need to be discussed with your healthcare provider. It’s important to be patient with any therapy you start, as healing takes time and consistency.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is also another method that can bring pain relief to someone with a disc injury. Whenever an injury occurs it causes swelling, tightness, and inflammation. Fortunately, these symptoms can be made better with therapies like massage. In many cases, pain can be made tolerable until more permanent treatments can be done.
**** This post is strictly informational and is not meant to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Women’s lifelink, its owners, administrators, contributors, affiliates, vendors, authors, and editors do not claim that this information will diagnose, treat, or improve any condition or disease.
