{"id":4169,"date":"2019-02-20T10:22:02","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T10:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=4169"},"modified":"2021-05-27T16:19:18","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T16:19:18","slug":"bulging-disc-10-home-remedies-to-reduce-your-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/bulging-disc-10-home-remedies-to-reduce-your-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulging Disc: 10 Home Remedies to Reduce Your Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A bulging disc \u2013 also called slipped disc or herniated disc \u2013 describes a condition that causes sharp pain the spine, potentially along with restricted movement, tingling, and weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A slipped disc occurs when the padded tissue in between the spinal columns moves and thus allows the spine to compress. When this happens, it will often trap a nerve in between, resulting in pain, discomfort, and numerous other issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that a slipped disc will often improve on its own over time. While this is true though, you should certainly see your physician to rule out potential other causes. At the same time, you can try using these 8 home remedies that can reduce pain, and speed up your recovery time. They may not solve the problem entirely, but they can provide you with the momentary relief that you are no doubt very desperate to experience!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The best option for reducing the pain from a slipped disc is to try exercising<\/a>. I don\u2019t mean that you should begin doing jumping jacks and press-ups (that\u2019s pretty much the last thing you should do!) but rather that you should try positioning your body correctly in order to open up the spinal column and allow the nerve to escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is best done with the supervision of a trained expert. Getting this wrong can potentially cause the issue to become worse as the nerve actually moves the wrong way <\/em>or as you end up allowing more of the soft tissue to move. This is especially true if the underlying cause is more complicated than at first meets the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still though, curling into a ball, arching your back on all fours, or lying with your legs up on a chair can all help to stretch out the spine gently. You can even try lightly hanging from a pull-up bar or tree branch. Just take it slow, listen to your body, and stop at the first sign of pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Warm Bath<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A warm bath isn\u2019t going to address the cause of your discomfort, but it might have a number of other secondary benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, a warm bath is immediately soothing. Heat is ideal for easing any kind of a pain because it helps to effectively \u2018scramble\u2019 the pain signal as it comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time though, heat can also help to encourage blood flow<\/a> to the affected region, thereby helping you to heal more quickly. The best part of a warm bath though is that it will help you to relax your muscles. While a slipped disc is not a muscular problem, tension held in the muscles can certainly exacerbate the issue and cause you to constrict the nerve further. This is why relaxing in a warm bath can really help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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

A massage <\/a>is another way to ease the discomfort of a slipped disc. Again, it\u2019s not going to provide long-term relief or solve the problem in any major way. However, for the very same reasons, it is also very safe to use and is unlikely to make the situation any worse \u2013 which is certainly a good thing! Of course, this is only true if the person giving the massage is gentle and careful not to push too hard or try any advanced manipulations. Hopefully, they know better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massaging the area where you feel discomfort can once again help to relax and ease the muscle surrounding the spine, thereby allowing it to relax and encouraging the trapped nerve to escape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, when you massage, you also encourage blood flow which helps with healing. And on top of all this, the physical touch can actually help to stimulate the body\u2019s natural painkillers: 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 device that sends a small electric current through any area. You use it by attaching two slightly damp pads which will, in turn, be plugged into a device that has mains or battery power. The charge is very small, so this won\u2019t cause any damage. However, the idea is that you will run it through the same area where you feel the pain, and this, in turn, will help to effectively \u2018scramble\u2019 the nerve <\/a>that is causing the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, our bodies run on electricity. The signals carried by our nerves are electrical impulses. Thus, when you add more electrical impulses, you make it harder for the body to get a \u2018read\u2019 on what is going on. In this case, you are sending a message that might create the sensation of pins and needles, but it will hopefully obfuscate the actual pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different people will find this option more or less effective, but it\u2019s worth a try and at the very least, it should offer some distraction from the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t have a tens machine to hand? If you happen to own an ab trainer or another EMS training device, then you might be able to use that on a very low setting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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

For simply reducing the pain, analgesics <\/a>(pain killers) can be highly effective. If there is swelling then opt for a blood-thinning pain killer such as ibuprofen or aspirin. This might actually help you to ease some of the pressure on the nerve \u2013 as sometimes the swelling is what causes this! Note as well that it’s possible to take ibuprofen with paracetamol in order to get greater effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, this is true of all the advice on this list so far: you can try a lot of these things together. That means you can take painkillers, have a massage, then take a warm bath. Find the right position, and then rest up. The combination might provide you with enough relief to get some much-needed respite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Lying Flat<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you might not feel confident enough to start using the advanced exercises and poses to release the trapped nerve, you may find that simply lying flat on a hard surface does the job well enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This way, you can help to prevent your spine <\/a>from dipping or curling, which it may do on a mattress or when you are on the sofa. Not only that but lying down changes the direction that gravity is affecting you, thereby again preventing the crushing effect on the nerves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This works best with a hard floor, and raising the legs might help further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While this isn\u2019t going to be everyone\u2019s cup of tea, meditation <\/a>can actually be a highly effective pain management strategy. Many studies show that the slow brain waves achieved through meditation are very effective at combating the pain of all kinds, but it\u2019s also true that you can use this as a way to distract yourself from pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All meditation is, is highly focused control over your attention. And when you direct this attention away from pain, it can actually lose a lot of its power. This might sound like wishful thinking, but any psychologist will tell you that it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Girdle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, if you\u2019re still at a loss, you can try bracing your body in order to prevent yourself from moving into the wrong position. You can get a girdle or brace of some sort from your doctor, but until then you can also try fashioning one yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A simple flat piece of wood against the back can encourage you to keep it straight while applying a little firm and evenly distributed pressure<\/a>. Pad it out, and this can be a useful strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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