Constant back pain is incredibly difficult to live with and can be caused by a variety of different factors. One of the most painful that you might have to face is a herniated disc. Your vertebrae, or the bones that are in your spine, have cushiony material between each of them which are known as discs. These discs keep your spine flexible and also act as a shock absorber for any activity you might engage in. When one of these discs slips out of place or is damaged, this is what is known as a herniated disc. You may have also heard of this referred to as a “slipped disc.”
A herniated disc can happen in any portion of your spine, but frequently is a problem that occurs in the lower back. Though this can happen just from the natural wear and tear you put on your back as you age, injury and trauma can also cause one of your discs to herniate. When this occurs, it can press on one of your spinal nerves causing acute pain, numbness and further weakening of the area of the spine.
Medication is commonly prescribed to help deal with the pain associated with a herniated disc. However, while muscle relaxers and pain treatments can help to get you started on dealing with your herniated disc, medication alone cannot offer a permanent cure. In order to get the maximum relief from an issue such as this, it’s important to embrace a more integrated approach that brings in physiotherapy and other elements to help strengthen the muscles surrounding the issue. Over-reliance on pain medication, particularly opioid-based medications, can have serious repercussions. By visiting a back pain specialist clinic such as Integrated Spine & Sports, the professionals there can help individually tailor a program to help both manage your symptoms and work on your recovery.
Source: http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/herniated-disc-directory
