Compressed disc also called herniated disc, bulging disc, ruptured disc and even slipped disc. The backbone or spine consist of vertebrae or bones and of course discs. Discs serve as cushions between the vertebrae or bones of the spine. It is the disc which lets you move the bones in your spine. When the disc is compress between the two bones in the spine, this disc presses on the nerves around the spine and this is what we call compressed disc or herniated disc.
Herniated means to stick out or bulge out and this condition are sometimes referred to as slipped disc or ruptured disc. This condition is quite common in the lumbar spine. As one advances in age the disc in your spine may weaken and less cushiony. When the disc is too weak the outer part may start to tear and the inside gel like material of the disk may start to push out and presses on the nerves beside it. This condition is most common to individuals ages 30 and 40 years old.
When disc is compressed it can result to pain in specific part of the body. It really depends on which disc is affected, how severe the pain is depends on how much the disc is pressing on the nerve. Most people experience pain that spreads over the buttocks and spreads down the back of the thigh and calf. This condition is often called sciatica since the pain follows the path of the sciatic nerve. In some cases individual experience pain in both legs and feeling of numbness or tingling.
The pain from compressed disc or herniated disc often gets worst when you are active and often goes away when you are resting. Bending forward, driving, sitting, sneezing and coughing may make the pain worse. It gets worst since this movement brings more pressure to the nerves. Individual who experience this pain often try to change positions every now and then to reduce the pain.
Treatment for compressed disc may include non-surgical form of treatment like taking of over the counter pain relievers along with bed rest for one to two days. If pain relievers does not help then your doctor might you a shot in your backbone. This might stop your pain fast although it might take more than one shot. Other forms of treatment include physical therapy, chiropractic, heat and cold pack and many more. If all this fails then surgery may be necessary but this will be your last option.
However, recent studies show that there is another way to treat compressed disc without the use of surgery and that is spinal decompression therapy. This is a non-invasive form of treatment for compressed disc or herniated disc in the lower back or neck. Many patients who suffer from herniated disc have achieved excellent results after having spinal decompression therapy.
This therapy involves the use of a decompression machine or table which is the major key for the effectiveness of the therapy. Your doctor will be the one to determine the treatment plan after an examination. Base on research, best results is often seen after the patient finish 32 sessions over a 12 week period. Indeed spinal decompression therapy has saved a lot of people from having surgery. This therapy is supported with research studies that prove of its effectiveness. According to a recent study in the Journal of American Medical Association, surgery is no more effective than non-invasive treatment like spinal decompression therapy (James D. Edwards DC, To Your Health Magazine, February Edition).