A slipped disc, otherwise called a herniated disc, is a widespread cause of back pain. many things can cause a disc to slip out of place, but it is first useful to be able to imagine what a healthy back bone or spine looks like. The spine is a series of discs sitting each on top of the one below with all the foremost nerves running through and along side of it.
That is, they do not sit completely on top of each other, there is a gap between them, which allows us to bend and twist. When we stand up right, the discs are supposed to go back to their original position, which is absolutely horizontal, quarter to and quarter past the hour on the clock face.
A slipped disc is usually when the lowest disc does not go back to its standard place but sticks at, say, twenty to and ten past the hour. The lower edge of the disc, the side pointing to twenty to the hour might come to sit on a major nerve - like the sciatic nerve which runs from the hip down to the foot on either side of the body.
This condition is known as a slipped disc with a trapped nerve. The pain it produces originates in the low back but radiates into the buttock and down the leg following the sciatic nerve. Lots of individuals call this sciatica. It is not the sciatic nerve's fault that it is causing pain - it is perfectly healthy - but it is being squeezed by the herniated disc which is causing it to become inflamed.
Therapy for this condition focuses on relieving the pain and getting the disc to float back to the horizontal, thus freeing the nerve and stopping the leg pain. Frequently the leg pain is a lot worse than the back pain.
In my case, the back pain is always there as a dull ache, but I can live with that. The real problems comes around three to five minutes after standing up. A pain starts in my calf like severe cramp and that rises into my buttock making my leg too painful to place on the ground. The sole relief is to sit down again or to take my weight on my arms by leaning on a table.
I have found some stretch exercises to help, but because I cannot stand for long, lots of of them are ruled out. Despite not exercising a lot, I have lost around 14 pounds and this has assisted my back to some extent.
If my back becomes bad, I lie on the floor and put my feet up, so that my posture resembles a sitting position, but without the weight of my upper body on my slipped disc. This is very useful. I have also discovered that adopting the foetal position helps a lot.
I also engage in massage therapy every 7-10 days. It hurts a great deal at the time, but by the time the masseuse is walking down the path, I already feel better and my condition continues to improve until she returns. Six weeks ago, I could not walk, now I am able to walk about 500 metres without help.
That is, they do not sit completely on top of each other, there is a gap between them, which allows us to bend and twist. When we stand up right, the discs are supposed to go back to their original position, which is absolutely horizontal, quarter to and quarter past the hour on the clock face.
A slipped disc is usually when the lowest disc does not go back to its standard place but sticks at, say, twenty to and ten past the hour. The lower edge of the disc, the side pointing to twenty to the hour might come to sit on a major nerve - like the sciatic nerve which runs from the hip down to the foot on either side of the body.
This condition is known as a slipped disc with a trapped nerve. The pain it produces originates in the low back but radiates into the buttock and down the leg following the sciatic nerve. Lots of individuals call this sciatica. It is not the sciatic nerve's fault that it is causing pain - it is perfectly healthy - but it is being squeezed by the herniated disc which is causing it to become inflamed.
Therapy for this condition focuses on relieving the pain and getting the disc to float back to the horizontal, thus freeing the nerve and stopping the leg pain. Frequently the leg pain is a lot worse than the back pain.
In my case, the back pain is always there as a dull ache, but I can live with that. The real problems comes around three to five minutes after standing up. A pain starts in my calf like severe cramp and that rises into my buttock making my leg too painful to place on the ground. The sole relief is to sit down again or to take my weight on my arms by leaning on a table.
I have found some stretch exercises to help, but because I cannot stand for long, lots of of them are ruled out. Despite not exercising a lot, I have lost around 14 pounds and this has assisted my back to some extent.
If my back becomes bad, I lie on the floor and put my feet up, so that my posture resembles a sitting position, but without the weight of my upper body on my slipped disc. This is very useful. I have also discovered that adopting the foetal position helps a lot.
I also engage in massage therapy every 7-10 days. It hurts a great deal at the time, but by the time the masseuse is walking down the path, I already feel better and my condition continues to improve until she returns. Six weeks ago, I could not walk, now I am able to walk about 500 metres without help.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with muscle relaxants for back pain. If you would like to know more, please go to our web site at Sore Back Remedies
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