Medical Management for Ruptured Lumbar Discs

So why do your discs rupture to begin with?

How much time have you got? There are multiple answers to this. Ruptured discs don’t discriminate against a person’s age – while the aging process does play a role, it’s not uncommon to find bulging, herniated, or ruptured discs on people of all ages. They can happen suddenly, say if you take a fall or are in a car accident, or they can develop over time due to continual bad posture or constant strain from activities like lifting, bending, or twisting. Lack of exercise (e.g., weak muscles) and being overweight can also contribute to this condition. The bottom line is, bulging, herniated, and ruptured discs are caused by pressure on the spinal nerves due to one darned thing or another.

Yes, you CAN get relief from the pain!

Depending on the type and severity of your pain, your physician can recommend your best course of action. You’ll be happy to hear that surgery is not necessarily the answer. HOWEVER, if you feel pain radiating down your leg, or you have a tingling sensation or weakness in your legs, it’s important to see a medical professional as soon as possible to diagnose the exact cause of the symptoms in order to rule out the necessity of surgery.

If the pain is less severe, there are a number of options to choose from to find relief:

• Here’s a simple one: Take an aspirin! Ibuprofen can also be helpful.
• Get a massage! Massage therapy can help relieve muscle spasms, as can stretching exercises . . . but go slow if you haven’t stretched for awhile. Don’t overdo it. Remember – “No pain, no gain” is no good!
• Build up your abdomen muscles and overall muscle tone. If you want to get rid of your back problem, first you need to get rid of your front problem!
• Sleep on your back (not on your stomach, which exacerbates the curve of your back and puts pressure on your discs and spinal nerves) on a medium-firm mattress. It’ll help keep your spine correctly aligned.
• This is the perfect (and legitimate!) excuse to let someone else do the heavy lifting! Avoid bending, twisting, and lifting as much as possible.
• Finally do as your mom told you all those years and stand up straight! Good posture is key to a healthy spine.
• Ladies, throw out the stilettos! High heels are very debilitating to your back. Make a new fashion statement in low-heeled shoes!