What Is The Real Truth Behind Disc Problems?
Back pain comes at different times and in different ways. Often it is a stiff neck, sometimes it is a tingling sensation in the back, and sometimes it is a sharp pain in the lower back when you do your regular activities, which could make you tear up in an instant. These kinds of disc problems are more common than you might think, particularly among people who work long hours, travel for long periods, and sit for long periods watching screens.
Disc problems, such as a slipped disc or bulged disc, are the most common problem behind this. Today, many people are dealing with disc problems simply because of their modern lifestyle, which demands sitting for many hours a day, travelling too much, and staring at screens for a prolonged time, straining their backs. So, if you have had back pain for some time now, then this blog reveals the real truth behind disc problems that you should know about.
What Are Disc Problems?
Disc problems are often bulged or slipped discs that happen when one of your discs in your back leaks or tears due to injury or natural aging. This adds strain on your back and irritates your nerves, causing numbness, pain, and fragility. The human body has a series of bones called vertebrae in the spine, extending from the base of the skull to the tailbone.
In between your vertebrae, there will be round cushion like structures known as discs. These discs act as cushions in between your bones, making you bend and move easily. As time passes by, the discs become weak and may become dislocated, leading to disc problems.
What Are The Symptoms You Should Be Aware Of?
The signs of an inflamed or bulged disc might differ based on its size, severity, and location. Consulting a neurosurgery doctor in Coimbatore helps evaluate whether your back pain occurs due to disc problems, as disc changes due to natural wear and tear. However, common signs are
- Heightened back pain if you sit or bend more often.
- Long term back pain.
- Numbness or sharp pain radiating into a leg or an arm may indicate that a disc has led to an irritation.
- Back pain occurs whenever you sneeze, cough, laugh, or do anything that strains your back, causing disc problems.
What Are The Causes of Disc Problems?
Some people are more vulnerable to disc problems than others. The common disc bulge causes are
- Lack of physical activity,
- Weighing more than BMI (Body Mass Index), e.g., obesity,
- Persistent smoking habit,
- Maintaining bad posture,
- Aging,
- Lifting heavy weights, and
- Diabetes.
But remember, disc problems also occur due to other unrecognized risk factors.
How Can Disc Problems Be Treated?
Some disc problems might resolve as time passes by, just like a sprain in your other body parts. Bed rest for a few days might help manage the earlier symptoms of the disc problems. However, if the pain is mild, most people may stay active. But leaving it unnoticed for a prolonged period can have a massive impact on your back and spinal discs in the long run.
But still, appropriate treatment from Coimbatore’s best neurosurgery hospital helps you relieve pain rapidly and supports you to stay active with no recurrence. The back pain relief treatment works by the following approaches to rectify the disc problems:
- Progressively increasing activity within your pain tolerance.
- Heat treatments such as hot packs or heat wraps.
- Massage therapy, manual therapy, or spinal mobilization.
- A program designed to improve flexibility, strength, and fitness.
- Pain relieving medications.
If the disc problems are severe, then specialists might perform surgery to reduce the bulging disc.
What Are The Major Reasons For Disc Problems?
Disc problems, which often indicate bulged, herniated, or prolapsed discs, can be the main reason for people who have prolonged back pain. Some of the common risk factors include being overweight, aging, lifting heavy objects, and a lack of physical activity.
How Serious Can Disc Problems Be?
If disc problems are not treated, they might result in persistent back pain. In rare cases, it might also result in lasting nerve and spinal disc issues if the nerve is seriously damaged. Inflammation in the intervertebral disc may result in modifications in the spine shape and sometimes cause serious disc problems.
How Do You Know If Your Disc Problems Are Worse?
Your disc problems are worse if you have:
- Nerve pain.
- Numbness or discomfort in some areas of your back, leading to disc problems.
- Pain on one side of your body.
- Extreme pain when you do certain activities.
- Muscle weakness, leg pain, numbness, and tingling sensations.
Summary
Disc problems, such as slipped discs or bulged discs, sound frightening. If you have problems such as this, then remember that it can be resolved with timely treatment and modifications in your lifestyle.
You must address the disc problems and signs at the early stages so that your healthcare provider may provide you with the right treatment. If you have the abovementioned symptoms for a long time and they show no signs of going away any time soon, then you must visit a specialist to seek guidance on what treatment suits you.
