Help! Herniated disc in back.How to fix this without surgery! Please?!
Question: I hope you have a good medical plan...
As far as I've understood it, you basically have three options: conservative treatment, aggressive treatment, and alternative treatment. Conservative treatment involves physical therapy and, if necessary, an epidural steroid injection in your back (don't worry, it doesn't hurt much). Your physical therapist will give you exercises to help you strengthen the core muscles surrounding the slipped disc. and will advise against certain movements which can trigger relapses. Yoga may be recommended at times while Pilates probably won't be as they involve different movements involving the affected area.
Surgery is a more aggressive, and not always necessary, option. And while it's only referred to as microsurgery - and I've had my share of surgeries for other issues (ACL repair, liver embolization), I chose not to have anyone operating on my spine and there are definite risks involved.
Alternative therapy falls into the realm of chiropractic care and meditation. While I don't prescribe to the theory that alternative care alone can cure you of much, I've found that at times a chiropractor can have "magic hands" and make you feel much better than when you walk in. They also have a good philosophy of curing the problem not simply dealing with the symptoms.
My advice? Seek out a physical therapist for the proper way to heal yourself, but consider seeking out a chiropractor for immediate, yet natural relief. Just don't tell the physical therapist about the chiropractor as the chiropractic industry doesn't garner too much respect in the true medical world. In the end it will probably be the PT that gets you healed, but it takes a lot of work. NSAIDs such as Advil and Ibuprofen will be helpful but try to take no more than a few a day and certainly only when necessary as they carry heavy negative health implications down the road following heavy usage.
Answers: I hope you have a good medical plan...
As far as I've understood it, you basically have three options: conservative treatment, aggressive treatment, and alternative treatment. Conservative treatment involves physical therapy and, if necessary, an epidural steroid injection in your back (don't worry, it doesn't hurt much). Your physical therapist will give you exercises to help you strengthen the core muscles surrounding the slipped disc. and will advise against certain movements which can trigger relapses. Yoga may be recommended at times while Pilates probably won't be as they involve different movements involving the affected area.
Surgery is a more aggressive, and not always necessary, option. And while it's only referred to as microsurgery - and I've had my share of surgeries for other issues (ACL repair, liver embolization), I chose not to have anyone operating on my spine and there are definite risks involved.
Alternative therapy falls into the realm of chiropractic care and meditation. While I don't prescribe to the theory that alternative care alone can cure you of much, I've found that at times a chiropractor can have "magic hands" and make you feel much better than when you walk in. They also have a good philosophy of curing the problem not simply dealing with the symptoms.
My advice? Seek out a physical therapist for the proper way to heal yourself, but consider seeking out a chiropractor for immediate, yet natural relief. Just don't tell the physical therapist about the chiropractor as the chiropractic industry doesn't garner too much respect in the true medical world. In the end it will probably be the PT that gets you healed, but it takes a lot of work. NSAIDs such as Advil and Ibuprofen will be helpful but try to take no more than a few a day and certainly only when necessary as they carry heavy negative health implications down the road following heavy usage.
Try icing it, cooling the disc will help take the swelling and inflammation out of it. Tylenol is Ibuprofen and will help reduce the swelling, pain and inflammation.
But do it daily.
There is no other way to FIX the herniated disc other then surgery.
Most Orthopedists will not operate unless there is severe nerve involvement . Everyone I ever knew who went through back surgery, was never the same afterwards.
I have herniated discs in my neck, mid-back and low back. Most were caused by an accident.
The treatment for the symptoms may involve Physical Therapy
Epidural Nerve Blocks
Strengthening Exercises--When you build up your abs it helps with your back.
Life style changes. If your job involves a lot of sitting, get up every half hour or so and stretch and walk around.
If you have poor posture, make an effort to sit up straight.
Increase your physical activity. Walking for instance, brings more blood to the area that is weak.
You will have good days and bad. You may find that cool, wet days worsen your condition.
When you are home, put a heating pad on the area to loosen the muscles.
There are many people who have herniated discs and most do not have surgery.
I assume you had a MRI, so could you tell us which Disc has herniated?