{"id":3975,"date":"2019-02-18T07:01:45","date_gmt":"2019-02-18T07:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=3975"},"modified":"2021-05-27T13:30:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T13:30:09","slug":"15-tips-for-quick-relief-from-herniated-disc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-tips-for-quick-relief-from-herniated-disc\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Tips for Quick Relief From Herniated Disc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A herniated disc is a cause of serious back pain that occurs when the soft cushion of tissue that\u2019s normally found between your spine bones gets pushed out. This then causes the bone to press on the nerves, which in turn creates a shooting pain that may travel all the way up and down the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is nothing quite like back pain. While no form of chronic pain is something you will want to endure, back pain is all-encompassing in that it affects almost every movement you might make. Everything from walking, to bending, to standing, to sleeping becomes immensely painful. You\u2019ll find yourself distracted as you go about your business, and you might find that things like lack of sleep start to take a real physical and psychological toll on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there are things you can do to address a slipped disc. In this post, we\u2019ll look at 8 tips for quick relief from herniated discs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Analgesics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll be taking a look at some of the best home remedies and strategies you can use in order to address the pain associated with a slipped disc. In the meantime though, while you attempt to address the pain more permanently, manage the discomfort using analgesics<\/a> which will help any discomfort. If there is swelling, then using blood-thinning pain killers like ibuprofen or aspirin can help to reduce this too and this can provide significant relief on the nerve if it was actually swelling that was applying the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, we are so keen to find a \u2018smart\u2019 solution to our problems that we forget the obvious answers right in front of us. Painkillers will provide immediate relief, help you get to sleep, and may even aid long-term recovery. Don\u2019t be a hero \u2013 dose up. And if you need better pain management, speak with your physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Exercises<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many different exercises you can use to reduce back pain caused by slipped disc temporarily or permanently and these will generally involve stretching <\/a>the spine slightly or opening it up. As mentioned, this back pain is a result of a trapped nerve that occurs when the spinal column loses its usual padding. Thus, by stretching out the spine you can often take some of the pressure off of the nerve and alleviate the pain. An example is to arch your back while on all fours like a cat which can be very effective, or rolling up into a small ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other exercises will focus on straightening out your spine to help to rectify anything that might be in the wrong place. Hanging from a pull-up bar, or getting someone to gently pull on your legs can often help, as can lying on the floor with your legs up on a chair at a right angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Massage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Simply massaging your spine or rubbing it can help you to alleviate any discomfort and particularly if the massage <\/a>is carried out by a professional. On the one hand, this can help to work lose a trapped nerve, and at the same time, it can also treat muscular issues through manipulation. While a slipped disc is not directly a muscular issue, muscle tension may have been what caused the problem in the first place and it can certainly make it worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to get a friend, family member or partner to carry out the massage, then you can try asking them to use ice to perform an ice massage which will also numb the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If nothing else, this is going to help encourage blood flow to the region, while also relaxing the body. Recent research also shows that massage and other forms of physical therapy stimulate the production of pain-fighting endorphins! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Tens Machine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A tens machine is a machine that using small electrical charges to excite the nerves <\/a>around the painful area. This can be very effective in treating pain as it ‘confuses’ the pain signal from those nerves acting as ‘noise’ in a radio signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that it is your nerves that are causing the pain associated with slipped disc \u2013 which is why you might also notice a tingling sensation or coldness in the area. By using a tens machine, you send different signals to that same area and interrupt the pain. If nothing else this will distract you from the discomfort you\u2019re feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Compress<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Using a hot or cold compress can help you to alleviate pain in your spine by numbing the area and reducing any potential swelling<\/a>. Make sure that if you use a cold compress that you don’t hold the cold directly against the skin, and that you don’t use it for more than ten minutes at a time or you can end up killing cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will help to relax muscles in the area, giving the nerve a greater chance of working free. At the same time, it can help to provide immediate comfort by soothing the painful area and masking the pain. If you don\u2019t have a hot compress to hand, then try using a warm bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Brace or Girdle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For any back pain, but particularly bone-related issues, a girdle or other kind of brace might not look great, but they will help to force your back into a healthier position and provide a compress that can help ease the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of a brace <\/a>or girdle is to force you to take up a particular position and to maintain that posture. This will reduce the amount of pressure on the spinal column and thereby increase the odds of the problem solving itself, while also removing the potential for acute pain as you bend, move, and go about your regular activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Address the Cause<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, you should also look into what might have caused the slipped disc in the first place. If you hurt yourself during exercise then consider stretching more thoroughly prior to working out and warming up. Think too about your technique and whether you\u2019re moving correctly. If this is a recurring symptom or you get regular pain from work you should just make sure that you change your posture and that you look into getting a more comfortable seat and desk if necessary. Classes in something like yoga or Pilates can help you to improve your posture and movement permanently to prevent future injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not enough to simply address the acute pain sensation: you need to make sure it doesn\u2019t come back and figure out what caused it to happen in the first place. This will help to improve your chances of good health in the long run and may give you clues as to what you need to do to heal more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. See a Chiropractor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Seeing a chiropractor <\/a>is a very good idea in any case, but especially <\/em>if it\u2019s a slipped disc. A chiropractor will look at how your spine and other joints and muscles are connected and will look at your body in a \u2018holistic\u2019 way. For instance, even though you may have a pain in your leg, this can often be caused by problems in your spine. Likewise, if you don\u2019t address the source of pain, this can cause your other muscles or your stance to compensate causing further damage. A chiropractor will work by using manipulations and by straightening out your spine in order to promote overall total body health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, you might also opt to use a physiotherapist or osteopath, both of which attempt to address the pain in different ways again. Research into the methods that appeal to you and then seek those out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the case, while there are things you can do to reduce the back pain yourself, the best option is to seek out someone who treats these kinds of conditions for a living and to put yourself in their hands. They will solve the problem more quickly and can refer you if there is any more serious underlying cause that you hadn\u2019t considered yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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