This may reduce the load on your lower back. When you stand or walk, keep your shoulders back and down, your chin back, and your belly in. Don't bend forward at the waist when you lift. For example, lift with your legs, not your back. Can a herniated disc be prevented?Īfter you have hurt your back, you are more likely to have back problems in the future. If your symptoms don't get better in a few months, you may want to talk to your doctor about surgery. Be patient, and keep following your treatment plan. Usually a herniated disc will heal on its own over time. Medicine won't cure a herniated disc, but it may help with pain and swelling. Ask your doctor about medicine to treat your symptoms.

These will help keep your back muscles strong and prevent another injury.

Do the exercises that your doctor or physiotherapist suggests.

You can also try an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. You can also buy single-use heat wraps that last up to 8 hours. Try a warm shower in place of one session with the heating pad.

Try using a heating pad on a low or medium setting for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 or 3 hours.

Walking and other light activity may help. Staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can weaken your muscles and make the problem worse. Symptoms from a herniated disc usually get better in a few weeks or months. Sometimes a doctor will do tests such as an MRI or a CT scan to confirm a herniated disc or rule out other health problems. If your symptoms clearly point to a herniated disc, you may not need tests. Your doctor may diagnose a herniated disc by asking questions about your symptoms and examining you. This could be a sign of a rare but serious problem called cauda equina syndrome. If you have weakness or numbness in both legs along with loss of bladder or bowel control, seek medical care right away. If a herniated disc isn't pressing on a nerve, you may have a backache or no pain at all. Sciatica is the most common symptom of a herniated disc in the low back. This is called sciatica (say 'sy-AT-ih-kuh'). A herniated disc in the lower back can cause pain and numbness in the buttock and down the leg. When a herniated disc presses on nerve roots, it can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the area of the body where the nerve travels.

This causes the disc to bulge or break open. When this happens, the thick gel inside the disc can be forced out through the tears or cracks in the outer layer of the disc. This may cause tiny tears or cracks in the hard outer layer of the disc. As you age, your discs dry out and aren't as flexible. Some happen in the neck (cervical spine) and, more rarely, in the upper back (thoracic spine). But most herniated discs affect the lower back (lumbar spine). You can have a herniated disc in any part of your spine. It may also be called a slipped or ruptured disc.

But when a disc is damaged, it may bulge or break open. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by small, spongy discs. If you are looking for information on a herniated disc in the neck, see the topic Cervical Disc Herniation. This topic is for a people who have a herniated disc in the lower back.

Herniated disk xray images