An intervertebral disc is a ligament that joins the vertebral bones, and it is a strong ligament. These discs are shock-absorbing cushions between the vertebra of the spine. An intervertebral disc has a strong outer ring of fibers that are called the annulus fibrosis and a soft center that is called the nucleus pulposus.
The strongest area of the disc is an annulus, and it connects each vertebra. These annular fibers are pretty strong and take the pressure evenly across the disk. The center of the disk, which is called the nucleus, serves as the main shock absorber. It absorbs the load from the daily body activities and keeps both of them separated.
So just like any other muscle, the annulus can tear or rupture around the disc. It is called annular tear when the disc material is not ruptured. The outer portion of the ring contains more fibers, and the tear in that would be a lot more painful than you might think. This condition can heal on its own, but sometimes surgery is required.
If it is not treated promptly, it may lead to premature degeneration of the disc. Keep in mind that surgery can be quite expensive, so we recommend looking into these alternative methods of treating annular tears.
Conservative Treatment for an Annular Tear
For those who would like to pursue non-invasive treatments for their back pain, there are several methods we recommend. Again, we would like to stress that there is no guarantee these will completely treat this condition.
If your annular tear symptoms persist, you should consider scheduling a surgical consultation with Florida Surgery Consultants. We have surgery centers in 7 convenient locations around Florida.
OTC or Prescription Pain Medication
Over the counter pain relievers can help relieve the pain or mild fever in a few hours. They prove to be most beneficial in all kinds of pain, and you don’t need any prescription for that. The most common over the counter pain medicines are acetaminophen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Hot/Cold Therapy
This type of tear can be healed by hot/cold therapy. The cold therapy reduces inflammation by decreasing blood flow, but you must apply the therapy within 48 hours. While heat treatment promotes the blood flow and, in turn, helps muscles relax. The annular tear can benefit from both of these therapies without side effects.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Epidural steroid injections is a minimally invasive procedure that can help relieve pain around the neck, arm, back caused by inflamed spinal nerves. The medicines are delivered to the epidural space, it relieves pain, and it can last for months or even years. It also reduces inflammation and other nerve compression symptoms.
Ultrasound Therapy
Therapeutic ultrasound is one of the best ways to reduce inflammation; it is a tried and tested method. The use of ultrasound therapy can significantly reduce swelling and chronic pain. The treatment is done in three to five minutes, and the head of the ultrasound probe is kept in constant motion. It is extremely safe as a licensed person performs it, and you should not feel any discomfort at all during the procedure.
Low Impact Exercises
Annular tear is a grave concern, and you shouldn’t be doing any heavy exercises that can hurt you more. But, you must try low impact exercises in that state as it improves your lower back and spine. There are many low impact exercises such as swimming, biking, and they can improve cardiovascular conditioning. You can also try some of the gym exercises, but you must consult your doctor or trainer before doing anything.
These are the best alternatives to surgery for annular tears, and all these are easy and safe.
Alternative & Complementary Treatments
For a non-surgical annular tear, you can try these exercises, which can ease the pain without much effort.
Massage Therapy
Massage has been practiced for thousands of years, and it can help in all kinds of problems with your body. Massage therapy involves pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles, other soft tissues. There are many types of massages that can help in reducing inflammation and muscle relaxation. You have to consult with your doctor for that matter as they would be able to advise which one suits your condition.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care for a pinched nerve can help in realigning the spine to get back to top health. Chiropractors specialize in reducing the stress to treat the pinched nerves in the spine. It is a healthy, natural, and conservative approach to allow the body to heal in some time. You don’t have to go through painful surgeries or medicines when you choose chiropractic care for your spine.
Yoga or Meditation
Yoga or Meditation is one of the best things for the overall fitness of the body; you can do it even when you are not ill or need any treatment. Yoga helps increase strength in very specific muscles in your body; there are different asanas for different body parts. Few yoga asanas promote spinal strength and flexibility, and you must try them. The best part is that they will give you mental relaxation.
Herbal Medicines
Many herbal remedies could have anti-inflammatory properties, and there is strong evidence for that. You can take herbal remedies or medicines to reduce the overall health of the body and control inflammation in the body. The natural herbs that can prove helpful are turmeric, green tea, white willow bank, chili peppers, and more. You have to consult the doctor before taking any medicine or remedy.
Acupuncture or Acupressure
Acupuncture or acupressure therapy are effective ways to reduce pain caused by annular tear. It can reduce chronic pain occurred in your body for any reason. It is the best way to reduce pain without any pills; you won’t find a better way without pills. There are many studies conducted on these for over a thousand years, and all of them result in favor of these practices.
So, if you are looking for an alternative to surgery for annular tears, you should consider these ten treatments. Most of them are harmless and don’t involve any pain or unnecessary medicines. Try these treatments for your condition and reduce it significantly.
