Herniated Disc And Leg Pain

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Did you know you could have a herniated disc in your back, and not know it? It is estimated that 3 out of every 5 adults have this common back problem even if they dont feel any back or leg pain. Thats because the disc has to actually hit a nerve before it starts to hurt.

As little as 1 mm of movement of a herniated disc can make the difference between feeling no back or leg pain at all - and excruciating agony. So even if your back feels fine today, its a good idea to know what you can do to keep it healthy and pain-free going forward.

The bones of your spinal column protect your spinal cord and supply your body via nerve roots - these are large nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and leave your spinal column between each vertebra. Your spinal vertebrae are separated by spinal discs, which are filled with a soft, gelatinous substance, cushioning the spinal column and allow it to move freely.

Before you read further, we recommend you read one of our other articles. It goes into greater detail about herniated discs and leg pain.

Herniated Discs, What They Are and What You Can Do About Them.

Strenuous ...
... physical activity or heavy lifting may cause these discs to herniate or move out of place. This can compress nearby spinal nerves and cause mild to severe back and leg pain.

The symptoms of a herniated disc and leg pain can vary widely, from a mild tingling or dull ache to a burning or pulsating sensation. In some cases, back and leg pain can be severe, usually occurring on one side of your body.

If you have a herniated disc in your lower back or lumbar area, you may feel a sharp pain in a part of the leg, hip, or buttocks or a general numbness and weakness. Usually only one side is affected. The pain, numbness, or weakness often goes away or improves a lot over a period of weeks to months.

How do you treat herniated disc and leg pain?

The first choice of treatment is a short period of rest with anti-inflammatory medications, preferably all-natural, followed by specific stretches and physical therapy. Most people recover and return to their normal activities.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and narcotic painkillers are usually given to people with a herniated disc caused by a sudden injury, such as a car accident or lifting a very heavy object that causes severe back and leg pain. Although these work for most people, we recommend all-natural anti-inflammatory supplements such as Heal-n-Soothe. These are much safer than NSAIDs and do not have the harsh side effects.

In extreme cases, steroid injections into the back in the area of the herniated disc may help control pain and reduce swelling around the disk, temporarily relieving many symptoms.

In the long term, lifestyle changes - in terms of diet and physical activity - are crucial for treating herniated disc and leg pain.

Herniated discs are caused by uneven pressure exerted on your spine due to postural dysfunctions created by muscle imbalances. For lasting pain relief, these postural dysfunctions need to be corrected.

Muscle balance therapy identifies which sets of muscles are imbalanced - treating the underlying cause with muscle balance therapy is the best way to treat herniated disc and leg pain.

Most Effective Treatments for Herniated Discs