Self-Care at Home
Minor cases can be handled at home in consultation with your doctor. Treatment will likely include application of hot or cold packs, limited activity (although strict bed rest is not generally advised), and basic pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). As your condition improves, specific back stretching or strengthening exercises may be suggested.
Medical Treatment
The doctor often prescribes bed rest or limited activity for several days followed by gradual increase in activity over the next few weeks. Strict bed rest is generally no longer advised because people with back pain have been shown to recover more quickly with normal activity as long as lifting, bending, and strain are limited.
Treat with ice or cold packs early after an injury and switch to heat later. Heat may be used early if the pain and symptoms are not caused by a sudden injury.
Physical therapy, exercise, and massage can be helpful if indicated (always check with your doctor before resuming any stressful activity).
Medications
Ibuprofen (Motrin) or other anti-inflammatory medications may be recommended. These can be safely taken with acetaminophen (Tylenol). Medicines to relax the surrounding muscle tightness and spasms are used for some people. A short course of a medical steroid (similar to cortisone) also may be used. Rarely is the use of a prescription narcotic medication needed for more than a couple of days, if needed at all.
Surgery
If these measures are not successful within a reasonable time and the tests confirm a herniated disk as the source of symptoms, surgery may be considered. Except in extreme cases or in those that have a high potential for permanent nerve damage, surgery is no longer considered early in a case. Often, time and basic spine care resolve most cases. Several surgical options exist. Your doctor will refer you to a spine specialist to discuss which option is best for you and what the likelihood of success will be.
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Follow-up
Follow your instructions carefully and do not attempt to skip steps in your care or overexert yourself too soon. Your initial treatment plan may need to be extended or modified based on your response to the treatment.
Prevention
- Regular exercise can decrease hardening and early breakdown of the disks, as well as improve the overall strength and tone of the supporting muscles and structures.
- Use proper techniques while performing strenuous exercise and strenuous work, including lifting. Lifting should be done with the legs performing the work, not the back. The worst possible combination of activities for your spine is heavy lifting while bending and twisting at the same time.
- Use of a spine brace during heavy lifting may be advised. Its proper use is to keep your back straight and encourage proper lifting technique. It should not be used as a substitute for proper technique or to encourage you to exceed safe lifting limits.
Outlook
The vast majority of disk problems improve without any surgery. Most people are able to return to normal function (with emphasis on protecting the spine from recurrent or new injury) within a short time. It is not unusual for similar symptoms to return in the future, however.
Synonyms and Keyword
Ruptured disk, disk protrusion, herniated disk, prolapsed disk, degenerative disc disease, slipped disk
Authors and Editors
Author: Shahram Lotfipour, MD, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pomona Valley Medical Center.
Coauthor(s): Dorris Powell, MD, Senior Consulting Staff, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital.
Editors: Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM, Research Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Thomas Rebbecchi, MD, FAAEM, Program Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
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Natural Remedies for a Slipped Disc
We recommend the following natural supplements for a slipped disc, click the links for more in depth product information.
Serrapeptase is a natural remedy for all types of injuries and has been found to relieve inflammation and pain and speed healing - an excellent supplement for a slipped disc.
Organic Silicon is best regarded as a general healing tonic, since it appears to facilitate a general healing response and move the body towards a more naturally balanced state. Organic Silicon was initially developed to treat arthritis and psoriasis, and as such has helped to relieve pain and inflammation for many thousands of sufferers.
Repair Tonic is an advanced, high potency formula to provide nutritional substances to facilitate the repair and maintenance of the protein structures of the body. This formulation can be regarded as a general tonic, especially from middle age onwards.
Please look at this valuable website for information on a variety of back problems www.backpainexpert.co.uk/home.html
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.
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