4 Best Ways to Alleviate Herniated Disc Pain
If you find yourself experiencing achy, and sometimes sharp, pain coming from your lower back, buttocks, or legs, you could be dealing with a herniated or bulging disc in your back. These discs sit between each vertebra and are an essential part of the spine.
Learning how to alleviate herniated disc pain is not always easy. It occurs when a disc pushes outward and begins to irritate the surrounding nerves. It can occur on either side of the spine, causing pain and numbness in the affected area.
Most people manage herniated disc pain with physical therapy and over-the-counter medications, but there are plenty of treatments you can try at home. Here are some of the best ways to help relieve herniated disc pain.
1. Applying Heat
Using a heating pad or warm compress before activity or exercise can help relax muscle tension and increase blood flow to the affected area. If your job requires frequent bending or twisting, which can worsen a herniated disc, applying heat throughout the day may provide relief.
Cold therapy is also important. After exercise or strenuous activity, applying a cold compress may help reduce pain. Heat helps decrease muscle tension and soothe discomfort, while cold provides an anti-inflammatory effect.
2. Low-Impact Physical Activity
Gentle physical activity works in a similar way to physical therapy. The goal is to gradually encourage your muscles and joints to move in ways that reduce stiffness and improve flexibility. Over time, this helps relieve tension and reduce pain.
Certain stretches and exercises can help reduce herniated disc pain, and many of them can be done at home. They can improve mobility, build strength, and reduce pressure on the affected disc.
3. Changing Your Sleeping Habits
Many people experience lower back pain from a herniated disc, and poor sleeping habits can place additional pressure on the spine. Placing a pillow under your knees can relieve lower back pain, while sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees helps keep your spine aligned and may reduce pressure on the affected disc.
4. Minimally Invasive Surgery
While herniated disc treatment varies from person to person, minimally invasive procedures may be the right option if your pain has become severe and difficult to manage. Procedures such as a laminectomy, discectomy, and spinal fusion are all commonly used to help relieve herniated disc pain.
During a laminectomy, the surgeon enlarges the space within the spinal canal to reduce pressure on the nerves. Any tissue or material compressing the nerves is removed, which can provide herniated disc relief and reduce future pain.
If you or someone you know wants to alleviate herniated disc pain, click here to learn more about herniated discs and your treatment options.