A spinal disk is a little like a jelly doughnut, with a softer center encased within a more rigid exterior. Sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk, a herniated disk occurs when some of the more delicate "jelly" pushes out through a tear in the more rigid exterior. Ok, so what you would need to do is establish the topic, which is the spine. There's no sign for that. You have to fingerspell it while topicalizing the subject with raised eyebrows. Then you describe the range as disks stacked upon each other. Then you state that a "herniated disk" occurs in one of two ways: by one of those disks sliding out or being crushed, causing the disk to elongate. It is hard to say because recovery from a herniated disc depends on many variables - the level at which herniation occurs (lumbar, thoracic, cervical), the extent of herniation, age of the patient, and general health status (any comorbid factors that prevent prompt healing)
How long does it take to heal from a herniated disk?
It is also essential to know that outpatient/physical therapy management of herniated discs is mostly only symptomatic. Pain relief, along with posture correction and muscle strengthening, remains central goals. (In most cases, this suffices.) This also means that the crux of the matter - the herniated disc - does not automatically readjust itself to cause lifelong relief thus preventing relapses. Surgery is usually required for such permanent fixes. Depending upon the severity of the factors as mentioned above, it could take as little as 1–2 weeks or as long as a few years before being resolved by surgery.
How successful is surgery for a herniated disk?
That depends on who you ask and what your definition of "successful" is. What is important to remember is that the patient's description of successful surgery is often very different than a surgeon's. A patient's definition usually means a return to pre-injury movement and activity, which often means moving and living like they were when they were 18 y/o and healthy. A surgeon's definition usually means the patient doesn't die either in surgery, from an infection as a result of the surgery, or that the patient isn't worse since the surgery. If a patient were to ask a surgeon to define "successful," the answer is usually different than what they want to hear. And many surgeons know this and are very "careful" in telling too much. Speaking as a physical therapist, Most back surgeries are not as successful as defined by patients.
Most back surgeries are successful as defined by surgeons
What's the best way to sleep or sit with a herniated disk?
You're in pain and trying to get comfortable. How you sleep or sit depends on what temporarily limits your problem. Temporarily is the keyword here.
To sit or sleep or walk or run or do anything comfortably, the pain must be eliminated. And here is what you must know:
Whether the diagnosis is a herniated disc, bulging disc, spinal stenosis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, and most other common diagnoses for lower back pain, upper back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and pain anywhere in your body, the way to eliminate your problem is the same. That may not make perfect sense to you now. However, the reason that people don't get long-term pain relief with back surgery, dangerous pain medications, and other medical treatments is that all these treat the symptoms. That's why it's called pain management. It temporarily manages your pain but doesn't eliminate the real cause of your problem. The latest scientific and neuroscientific studies have proven that very infrequently do any structural abnormalities cause the pain. They consistently show that 2 of 3 people that have never had back pain or neck pain have herniated discs or bulging discs at one or more levels. They also show spinal stenosis and are diagnosed with non-structural abnormalities such as fibromyalgia. So once you see the science, it becomes clear that herniated disc etc. has a 3% chance of causing pain or other symptoms. Yes, it shows on the MRI or other image, but it isn't the cause.
The reason at Zero Pain Now we've had such a tremendous success rate helping thousands of people safely and rapidly end the pain is because we teach you how to eliminate the real cause. The real reason begins in your brain with stress, tension, and emotions. This starts a physiological process that leads to pain, tingling, burning, numbness, and weakness. I'm not here to get you to use Zero Pain Now. But I want you to know that when you eliminate the cause of your pain, then you can sit and sleep however you like because there will be no pain to limit your waking or sleeping life. You can get an objective score to see if you can heal your problem by taking The Pain Test on the site. If you score high, then you're all ready to banish the pain. The key here is that less than 3% of the time does a herniated disc cause pain. So your odds are fantastic to feel better.
Views on seeing a chiropractor versus physical therapist for herniated disk and sciatica?
Both forms of therapy can offer both relief and treatment from this condition. First, of its unlikely, your vertebrae were in the wrong position or that it was placed back into a different position most likely the more massive massage techniques helped loosen the joint. I would recommend seeking treatment as the longer you experience the pain generally, the more difficult it is to resolve. Given you are showing nerve signs, I would recommend a full assessment to confirm the level and location of any problems. There are often a few distinct parts of treating this condition, and I have successfully worked both alone or in conjunction with chiropractors to treat it:
Stage 1: Loosening the lower back, normalizing range of motion, and settling pain. This is often where the physio and chiro can work together. Hands-on treatment, joint manipulation, dry needling, and massage can help loosen the lower back, Combine this with stretching to get it moving.
Stage 2: Core control and activation, during this stage, you may still receive hands-on treatment from the physio and manipulation from the chiro. You will start to work on the core, which supports the lower back and holds everything in place.
Stage 3: advanced strengthening. This is mostly work done by you and should not require as much involvement or hands-on work. You exercise, and rehab needs to become sports specific and related to the requirements of your life, work, and sport.
A quick points to keep in mind:
-there is no good evidence for 'subluxation' of the vertebrae, but spinal manipulation can help loosen joints and ligaments.
-evidence suggests that the tremendous success in back pain is achieved through combined stretching and core strengthening.
-look for a therapist that encourages self-management you should not need to receive treatment long term. Get a plan and work towards it.
A herniated disc in the neck
What are the symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck?
The most common symptom is radiating pain down to the shoulder with the same side neck flexion or same side neck rotation. Though to be more specific, some other tests must be performed. These tests will eliminate possible muscle involvement.
Can acupuncture help with chronic pain of a herniated disc in the neck and TMJ?
Not, it can't. Despite their claims, there is no credible evidence of any physical effect beyond the placebo. There are no material structures that prove meridians exist anywhere outside people's imagination. No unbiased studies are showing positive results. Exactly 0 evidence that chi exists as anything but an imaginary force. It is another case of magical thinking.
How do I sleep with a herniated disc in my neck?
For your neck and the rest of your spine to remain level when you are lying on your side, your pillow should be at least 4 to 6 inches high from the surface of your bed. Lying on your side can relieve pressure from your neck and maybe helpful toward mitigating neck pain.
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