Try To Alternate Warm And Cold Packs If You Continue To Have Pain

Health, Medicine.

Conservative treatment methods for herniated discs - when looking for relief of your symptoms associated with a herniated disc, before surgery is even remotely considered many avenues of conservative treatments are first to be explored. Some of the treatments you may expect to find include: Rest: Even though it seems like a few days of bed rest may provide some relief, any more then this is not a good idea. Through the use of conservative treatment methods the body and herniated disc pain are given a chance to heal over an amount of time.

Inactivity will make your symptoms worse over time as your back muscles begin to degenerate. - nonsteroidal anti - inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen products such as tylenol can help to relieve your pain. Anti - inflammatory medications: This type of medication will reduce inflammation leading to less pain. Although these provide pain relief, there is a limit to how much pain can be controlled. In a clean towel, wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas and apply to the affected areas for fifteen to twenty minutes four times per day. Hot and cold packs: Cold packs help to reduce inflammation and relieve some of the discomfort.

After 48 hours have passed, apply heat to the affected areas. - try to alternate warm and cold packs if you continue to have pain. Warm packs or a heating pad on the lowest setting should help to alleviate some of the pain. Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can play an important part in your recovery from a herniated disk. Steroid Injections: An injection medication to the affected area may be helpful in some instances. When your condition improves your physical therapist can work with you to help design a rehabilitation program that will help you prevent the same injury in the future.

If taken in doses that exceed your natural levels, inflammation is suppressed relieving painful symptoms caused by the pressure of the inflammation. - physical therapy is usually started once the pain has begun to lessen. Because of the serious side effects that steroid injections can cause, the number of injections you can receive in a year is usually limited to no more than three. Through physical therapy you can begin to strengthen your back muscles and joints. Although there may be some residual pain over the next few months the acute pain from your herniated disc should go away within a few weeks. As you strengthen your back muscles you improve the chances of you not re - injuring your back.

If you have a history of disc problems, strengthening and stretching exercises should be recommended throughout you life to help keep your backaches under control. - good practices to remember when thinking about preventative measures include: use proper lifting techniques and maintain a healthy posture. Strong back muscles are also essential to protecting your spine when lifting. Avoid standing in one place for longer periods of time. Use ergonomically correct seating that provides healthy back support. Stretch often when sitting or standing in the same place for long periods of time. Sleep on a firm mattress.

When driving for long periods of time( or sitting in a vehicle as a passenger) stop and rest often. - instead of sleeping on your stomach, sleep on your side. Use this time to stretch your back muscles. Maintaining good core strength and strong, flexible muscles will decrease the risk of herniated disc. After your injury, to avoid aggravating it further which could lead to permanent damage, make sure you do not return to activity too quickly.