All You Need to Know About Bulging Disc

You have probably heard about bulging disc in some or the other discussions but like any other non-medical person, chances are, you probably have many questions unanswered.

Bulging disc treatment can be required by anyone at any stage of life; although the condition is more prevalent in those who are involved in arduous physical activity for long period or amongst older populations. To prevent the condition from worsening, it is important to understand the symptoms and causes, and know about treatments for a bulging disc if you think you are one who will fit in the said group.

What is a bulging disc?

Your spine is made up of vertebrae that have discs in between which prevent damage to the spinal tissue and bone by working as a shock absorber. This also makes the movement easier. However, when there is a slip of the disc from its normal position it can give rise to an outward swelling when the fluid comes out of the weakest point from the disc. The symptoms worsen when the conditions continues for a longer time. Bulging discs are also referred to as protruding disc.

Symptoms

There can be little or no pain involved until the condition reaches the point of herniation and that usually makes it tricky to identify the bulging disc symptoms. Unless there is some severity in the symptoms, there can hardly be any proper diagnosis or treatment for bulging disc.

Quick facts

• Bulging discs produce pressure points on the neighbouring nerves giving rise to strange sensations
• Tingling and numbness fingers, hands, arms, neck or shoulders along with pain is common
• Lumbar area is the most frequent region to have the condition
• Bladder incontinence can occur with some as well
• Mid-spine bulging disc causes upper back pain radiating to the stomach or chest
• Muscle spasms also occur with any bulging
• Immediate medical evaluation is required upon evaluation

Causes

Of the many reasons that cause bulging of the spine, natural aging and obesity are the main reasons. Depending on your lifestyle choices and type of physical activities the vulnerability of the condition increases.

Although bulging discs occur over time, bad posture such as improper body positioning during sitting, standing, or sleep may augment the risk.


Diagnosis

A thorough medical examination involving X-rays, CT or MRI scans are necessary to identify the bulging disc condition.

Treatment

Once diagnosed with the condition, the first thing a patient is advised is to change the body positioning and behaviours (such as the sitting, sleeping, and posture positions). This might initially help to reduce any pain caused by the affected disc. A weight reduction plan and exercise also proves helpful for the obese patients. Physical therapy is often advised to strengthen and gain the lost mobility. Basically, the non-surgical treatments can work before the stage of herniation. Anti-inflammatory medications can help to cure mild to moderate discomfort.

The new age treatment

Today, there are cutting edge and state-of-the art technology treatment options available which follows non-surgical and non-invasive practice. Decompression is the most effective and common step followed to re-establish the disc condition, heal them and become rehydrated.

Recommended treatment program include the following which is based on the history and examination through MRI, X-ray, and CT.

The ways include:

•    Non-surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy
•    Class III / Class IV Laser Therapy
•    Electro-Medicine, Advanced Rehabilitation
•    Spinal Manipulation
•    Nutritional Recommendations
•    Comprehensive Nutritional Protocol
•    Home Treatments (with Neurostimulation and LLLT -low level light therapy at times)

Exclusive Nerve & Disc Centers® offer Bulging Disc Treatment from experts practicing non-surgical and non-invasive methods. Visit https://nervedisc.com to book a consultation.

Eight Common Reasons That Causes Numbness and Tingling in Hands

Have you ever faced sudden numbness in your hands and feet? Did you feel that the condition persists and there is a gradual onset of the numbness and the tingling? This is a very common concern amongst working adults, specially those who have to go through repetitive and forceful activities (for instance, prolonged use of a computer keyboard and mouse).

Lack of nutrition, particularly vitamin B deficiency, can cause numbness and tingling in hands as well as feet. The condition worsens when it is associated with pain.

If you are facing any such complications, do not ignore them, as it might be a sign of peripheral neuropathy that needs immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Peripheral neuropathy

Local pressures on a nerve (or as medically called compression neuropathy) can result in numbness in different patterns. Physical injury, unwanted growth in the bands of connective tissue, thickened muscles, ganglion cysts, enlarged blood vessels, or arthritic spurs can result in nerve compression in different areas of the body.

Causes of tingling in the hands and feet

•    Accounting for about 30% of cases, diabetes is one of the major reasons that cause peripheral neuropathy. One of the early signs of diabetic neuropathy is tingling, which develops in both feet, and go up the legs. It is then followed by similar sensitivity that affects the hands. Most of the diabetic patients can suffer from mild to severe forms of nerve damage.

About 30% of peripheral neuropathy cases are called Idiopathic neuropathy where the cause is unknown

•    Nerve entrapment syndromes - carpal tunnel syndrome, peroneal nerve palsy, ulnar nerve palsy, and radial nerve palsy are some of the causes that can form numbness and tingling in hands

•    Systemic diseases – When someone suffers from renal disorders, vascular damage, liver disease, blood diseases, amyloidosis, hormonal imbalances (including hypothyroidism), connective tissue disorders and chronic inflammation, cancers and benign tumors, it can impinge the peripheral nerves.

•    Deficiency of Vitamins - Vitamins B1, B6, B12, E and niacin are necessary for healthy nerve function. Insufficient intake of B12 can result in pernicious anemia, which is a vital thing for peripheral neuropathy. On the contrary, excessive Vitamin B6 also can result in similar condition.

•    Alcoholism - Alcoholics generally have higher thiamine or other important vitamin deficiencies owing to their reduced dietary habits. Eventually, it leads to peripheral neuropathy that damages the nerves - a condition which many likes to call alcoholic neuropathy.

•    Toxins - Certain medications, especially the chemotherapy drugs which are used to treat lung cancer contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and thallium can cause nerve damage. The numbness from compressed or damaged nerves also comes from some antiviral and antibiotic drugs.

•    Infections – when you have conditions such as shingles (varicella-zoster), Lyme disease, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, Epstein-Barr, and HIV/AIDS, there is higher chance of nerve damage.

•    Injury - Nerves can be compressed, damaged, or crushed resulting in nerve pain; for instances, the ones that occur in nerve compression in a dislocated bone or a herniated disc.

The recovery period varies from person to person but typically, the treatment session can last from 45 to 60 minutes. While on the treatment, it is required to remain well hydrated and have a healthy diet for most healing. The exclusive approach to herniated discs, spinal degeneration, and peripheral neuropathy from the experts of Exclusive Nerve & Disc Centers® will help recover from the condition through a non-surgical and non-invasive practice.

Visit https://nervedisc.com to book for your consultation.