It is an extreme discomfort to have a herniated disc. This spinal condition is also referred to as slipped disc or ruptured disc. This happens when one of the spinal discs becomes ruptured, bulge, break open, and become misaligned. When the misalignment is severe, the nerves are compressed and cause pain and discomfort. Both muscular and nerve pain can result from disc herniation or a slipped disc. The irritation of the nerve from the herniation could cause interference in the nerve signals to and from your brain and your extremeties. Consequently, you could feel pain and numbness not only in the lumbar area but also in your shoulders, arms, buttocks, thighs, legs, ankles, and feet depending on which lumbar area your disc herniation is located.

A physical examination by a physician could confirm disc herniation. There are certain tests that a physician could perform to establish whether a patient has slipped disc or not. Imaging tests such as MRIs could be used together with the findings of the physical examination to make a diagnosis of disc herniation. Normal wear and tear of the spinal column could be revealed by the MRI especially in those patients who are in their 40s and 50s. A combination of the physical examination findings, MRI readings, and x-ray results could yield a more accurate picture of the disc herniation and could make it easier for the physician to come up with a more efficient treatment plan for the patient.

The simplest treatment for a mildy herniated disc would involve conservative treatment wherby a planned exercise and pain relief program is undertaken. Most of those who are suffering from disc herniation are relieved of disc herniation symptoms by just by this kind of program. In a matter of one or two months, patients in this conservative treatment often get better. This is proven with imaging studies showing a decrease in the displaced portion of the disk. You may be asked to alter your regular activities to ease the pressure on your spinal area. You may also be recommended to go to physical therapy sessions where you can perform exercises to ease nerve compression in the spine. At the onset of physical therapy, the focus of the exercises would be to alleviate the pain that is caused by the disk herniation. The therapy would then move on to a rehabilitative mode where the strength and stability of the back muscles and bones are worked up to minimize future injuries.

Pain management is also an integral part of treatments for patients with herniated disc. Cold compress could be applied to the back or any areas where pain is experienced for relief. When the inflammation has subsided, gentle heat can be applied to the affected area to ease any remaining discomfort. Over-the-counter medication for pain could be enough to ease the pain that is caused by disc herniation. Your doctor should be able to advice you on which NSAID would be the best for you since some of these pain medications could have dangerous drug interactions. Muscle relaxants could also be prescribed for relief of muscular and nerve spasms.