People can suffer a herniated disc anywhere along their spine. When a herniated disc occurs in the lumbar spine, pain may radiate from your lower back, down the back of your legs, to your feet. Relieving lumbar herniated disc pain may look different for different people but this article will provide some tips that can help anyone manage their pain.
What Is A Herniated Disc
There are 24 small bones, known as vertebrae, that compose the spine. These bones are all stacked on top of each other and are cushioned by intervertebral discs between each vertebra. Intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers for the spine and allow the spine to move without injury.
Each intervertebral disc is has a tough outer layer (annulus) and a soft, gel-like inner layer (nucleus). A herniated disc occurs when the annulus ruptures, causing the inner nucleus to push through. This disc material can put pressure on nerves in the spine and lead to pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.
When a herniated disc takes place in the lumbar spine (lower back), it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and runs from the base of your spine down the back of your legs to your feet. Pressure on your sciatic nerve may cause radiating pain in your lower back, buttocks, legs, or feet. This is a condition known as sciatica.
How To Alleviate Your Lumbar Herniated Disc Pain
There are several methods people can use to relieve their lumbar herniated disc pain. However, it is important to keep in mind that what works to alleviate your pain may not necessarily work for someone else. Successful pain management may depend on finding the right treatment for you and the severity of your injury.
People with mild lumbar herniated disc pain will be better able to manage their pain through non-surgical treatment options while more severe cases may require a surgical approach. That being said, here are some great methods to help relieve herniated disc pain in your lumbar spine:
Heat And Cold Therapy
Using alternating heat and cold therapy on your lower back is an excellent way to reduce pain symptoms from a herniated disc. A herniated disc in the lumbar spine is known to cause extreme tightness in the lower back muscles and even muscle spasms.
Heat therapy helps to loosen up tight muscles, preventing spasms and increasing blood flow. Increased blood flow helps bring more oxygen to the area which can improve recovery time for injuries. You can apply heat to your lower back using a heating pad or hot compress, or taking a shower or bath.
Cold therapy helps to reduce inflammation and can act as an analgesic. This is a great option for relieving lumbar herniated disc pain. Apply an ice pack to the affected area using a buffer, such as a hand towel, to prevent a thermal injury to the skin.
Exercise
While strenuous exercise is not recommended for people who have suffered a lumbar herniated disc, low-impact exercise can actually be beneficial. The endorphins released while exercising can help elevate your mood throughout the day and act as a natural painkiller.
Some low-impact exercises that are safe for most people suffering from a moderate herniated disc include:
- Walking outdoors
- Walking on a treadmill
- Using an elliptical
- Using a recumbent bicycle
Always be sure to get medically cleared by your doctor before engaging in any exercise that could exacerbate your condition. If you are working with a physical therapist, they may guide you through some exercises that will help strengthen the muscles in your lower back. This can help reduce pressure on a herniated disc, relieving pain from a compressed nerve.
People who are suffering from more severe lumbar herniated disc pain may benefit from exercising in a pool. Water-based exercise is excellent for people with a herniated disc because the buoyancy of the water counteracts gravity, taking load-bearing pressure off of the spine.
Medication
Pain medication is another option for managing lumbar herniated disc pain. Your doctor may prescribe a regimen of over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, or stronger prescription painkillers based on the severity of your discomfort. However, always be sure to follow the prescribed dosage and directions of your doctor when taking pain medication.
Adjust Your Sleeping Position
Some people may not realize that your sleeping position can actually increase the pain experienced by a herniated disc. Certain sleeping positions can help reduce pressure on the spine, while others can increase pressure on a herniated disc.
You can try sleeping with a pillow placed under your knees if you sleep on your back. This will help to reduce the amount of pressure experienced in the lower back. People who enjoy sleeping on their sides may benefit from placing a pillow between their knees. The pillow will help keep the spine straight and the hips balanced.
Correct Posture
Many conditions that result in back pain are a result of poor posture. Maintaining correct posture helps keep the spine properly aligned, relieving unnecessary pressure. You can help reduce the pain experienced from a lumbar herniated disc by keeping good posture while sitting or standing.
Be sure to avoid activities that make maintaining good posture more difficult, such as:
- Wearing high heels
- Standing or sitting in the same position for long periods of time
- Sleeping on your stomach
You should also avoid bending or twisting to pick anything up. If you do need to pick something up, use your legs to lower down and lift back up while keeping your back and spine straight. Do not lift heavy objects while you have a herniated disc.
Dieting
Your weight can also play a role in the load-bearing pressure being placed on your spine. People who are overweight are more likely to suffer a lumbar herniated disc because their weight puts their intervertebral discs under more strain.
Adding more fresh fruits, veggies, proteins, and complex carbohydrates to your diet can help you maintain a healthier weight. Regular exercise will also help you lose weight and core exercises can strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, providing better support for your spine.
Treatment Options For Lumbar Herniated Disc Pain
In severe cases, lumbar herniated disc pain can be excruciating and may require more aggressive treatment. Non-surgical treatment options are always the primary choice before surgical procedures are considered. However, if non-surgical treatments prove ineffectual or the herniated disc is too severe, it may be time to get a surgical consultation.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Your doctor will almost always recommend starting with non-surgical treatment options for a herniated disc before they consider surgery. Non-surgical treatments for lumbar herniated disc pain may include:
- Physical Therapy: A physical therapist would work closely with you to develop a recovery program tailored to your needs. It may involve exercise, massage, heat and cold therapy, and other techniques.
- Chiropractic Care: Chiropractors specialize in promoting health and wellness through proper spine alignment. They may employ techniques, such as chiropractic adjustment or spine decompression, to alleviate herniated disc pain.
- Prescribed Medication: Your doctor may prescribe certain pain medications, usually nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or analgesics (pain relievers), to help you cope with pain levels until you recover.
- Acupuncture: Some people have used acupuncture to help relieve lumbar herniated disc pain. However, this is usually only beneficial for mild to moderate pain.
- Yoga: Yoga can be a great way to build core strength through low-impact exercise. Some may find the combination of physical activity, meditation, and breathing exercises yoga offers to be beneficial.
Surgical Treatment
Patients who have suffered a serious herniated disc or whose pain has not improved from non-surgical treatment may need to consider surgical options. Fortunately, there have been many modern improvements to surgical procedures for treating a herniated disc. Minimally invasive procedures are used most often now. This type of surgery does less damage to the body and allows patients to heal much faster.
The two main surgical options for treating a lumbar herniated disc are:
- Discectomy: A discectomy is a procedure that involves cutting out and removing a portion or all of a herniated disc. A surgeon will remove any herniated disc material that is compressing the spinal cord or nearby nerves, relieving pressure and pain. They will then replace the disc with an artificial disc or fuse the vertebra together to stabilize the spine.
- Laminectomy: Surgeons use a laminectomy to open up space within the spinal canal, taking pressure off the spinal cord. Neurosurgeons do this by surgically removing part of the laminae (thin plates of bone that arch around the spinal cord to protect it).
Speak To A Florida Nuerosurgeon Today
If you are suffering from lumbar herniated disc pain that is not improving through non-surgical treatment, it may be time to consider surgical options. The board-certified neurosurgeons at Florida Surgery Consultants have years of experience diagnosing and treating herniated discs.
Contact Florida Surgery Consultants to determine if surgery is the right option for your herniated disc pain. Our expert staff will guide you through every step of your treatment, making sure you feel comfortable and in good hands as you recover.
When you are ready to start living without lumbar herniated disc pain, we are ready to help. Schedule a consultation with a neurosurgeon today by calling (888) 411-6824 or filling out the form on the right side of the page.