Herniated Disc Pain Relief
Article by Robert N. Perry
The pain caused by a herniated disc is one of the most debilitating and excruciating experiences a person can endure. Consequently, the search for herniated disc pain relief is the primary concern for sufferers of this condition.
This condition is occurs when the discs in between backbone vertebrae undergo tearing that causes the inner gel of the disc to bulge out or be herniated. The bulging gel then pinches on the spinal cord or a nerve resulting in very painful symptoms.
There are over 30 treatments known for the relief of this kind of pain which can be categorized broadly into surgical and non-invasive methods.
A series of back surgeries are available for providing herniated disc pain relief. The doctor will recommend the best procedure depending on the type of affliction you have. Keep in mind that surgical methods are not always necessary, do not always cure this ailment and may even cause worse symptoms than before.
Various types of oral medication are also available for this ailment. They don’t cure the patient of the pain but work to treat symptoms including nerve pain and inflammation, as well as side effects such as sleeplessness. Take note that prolonged use of medication may cause addiction, liver dysfunction and digestive problems such as constipation.
Steroid injections are another remedy for pain relief. The steroids are injected directly into the tissue and are usually prescribed together with oral medications. However, this treatment should not be administered more than twice a year because of the risk of damage to the cartilages.
Fortunately for sufferers today other options exist for natural pain management that are just as effective – if not more – than surgery and pharmaceutical pills. For example, there are herbal remedies in a gel form that can be applied onto the affected area. These work to reduce inflammation, painful nerves and tissue swelling. Should you opt for this method, ensure that you seek the advice of a registered alternative medical healer.
Ice packs are another therapy for pain relief which are recommended over heat therapy. Ice helps to reduce the inflammation and swelling around the pinched nerve. The key thing here is to repeat the ice pack treatment regularly, preferably every hour. You will start to experiencing relief after a few hours and distinct improvement after a couple of days. Heat treatment, on the other hand, speeds up blood flow to the affected area causing more swelling and additional painful symptoms.
Bouncing on a gym therapy ball is another ‘do-it-at-home’ way of delivering herniated disc pain relief. You simply bounce gently on the ball for up to 5 minutes. The bouncing aids the supply of blood and nutrients to the disc gel providing pain relief and faster healing.
Controlled exercise and massage therapies are also alternative methods of herniated disc pain relief. Seek out a professional trainer or a trained massage therapist who is familiar with the right therapies for this kind of condition. Again, being consistent in your exercise and training program is important for continued healing.
Quite often discs will heal on their own within a few weeks or months. So before you jump to steroids and surgery, try out the natural pain management options first.
If you have tried both conventional medical treatment and alternative treatments as well and the pain is only getting worse and unmanageable, you may be one of the people who have no choice but to opt for surgery. Only you know how much pain you are in and the decision is yours. If you decide on surgery be sure and try to find a doctor who can perform one of the less invasive type surgeries that are available today. They carry less chances of complications and a much faster recovery time.
Our site contains a world of information on herniated discs, their causes and their cures. If you want to stay up to date and informed on this subject, please feel free to visit.
http://www.herniateddiscbacksurgery.com
About the Author
Robert Perry specializes in the building of income producing niche websites, using google adsense ads. For he builds a 5 article website that the search engines love. You should visit his site.
http://www.thenichebuilders.com