What Is Disc Referred Pain, and What Treatments Are Available?

A common description of disc referred pain is that it is dull and achy and that it moves about the body with varying degrees of intensity. It may radiate into the pelvis, buttock, groin, and upper thigh from the disc in the lower back.

What results in referred disc pain?

Injuries to the disc or to any of the lower back’s connected sensory nerves might result in this type of back pain. Degenerative disc disease’s “dehydration,” which can result in referred pain to the backs of the thighs and hips, is an example of disc-referred pain.

Disc dehydration: what is it?

As we age, dehydration starts to happen near the intervertebral discs. To put it another way, the disc will start to disintegrate while experiencing an exceptional loss of water and rigidity that only permits minor movements. These consequences can result in pain from the disc that may even radiate down to the legs. This type of disc-referred pain is referred degenerative disc disease.

Signs of dehydration:

The main signs include low back pain, foot discomfort, and leg pain. Apart from these typical signs, there are additional typical instances of referred pain, such as arm, neck, or shoulder pain, which are primarily brought on by heart attacks. Because the brain is no longer able to pinpoint the particular source of the pain. It will be felt more vaguely throughout the body. Poorly localized referred pain is frequently characterized by dullness and pains.

Also, Referred pain can be extremely challenging to appropriately identify and effectively treat. The spine is a region of the body that is prone to injury. This is because it is vulnerable to twisting and torque, two powerful forces that can result in back pain. Others include sharp shocks and ongoing stress, such as that caused by bad posture. These can all provide information about the disc space, which is a key source of back discomfort.

Therefore, pain may be experienced in another area of the body as a result of an intervertebral disc issue. This is the main cause of disc referral pain. For instance, referred pain in the leg may occur in a patient with a herniated disc issue or a bulging disc in the lumbar spine (low back). Sciatica is often referred to as lumbar radiculopathy. It is a condition characterized by a shooting pain that, at times, extends from the buttock to the leg and even the foot. Frequently, commonly only one leg is impacted.

Treatment of Disc Referred Pain using Physiotherapy

It is crucial to consult a qualified specialist for the treatment of disc-referred pain. Whose responsibility it is to make an accurate diagnostic of the underlying cause of the issue in order to choose the best course of treatment to prevent it.

In most cases, we can avoid surgery. Once the underlying cause of the referred pain has been identified, a nonsurgical treatment option may be used. In terms of physiotherapy, this entails using

• hot or cold packs,
• stretching,
• Manual therapy,
• Neurodynamic training,
• PNF,
• Ultrasound, and
• Also, active exercise,
• as well as, taking the proper painkillers.

Call now at ELITE PHYSIOTHERAPY & SPORTS INJURY CENTRE.  A complete medical history, discussion of the symptoms, physical examination, and diagnostic special tests are all available from doctors in order to propose a pain-relieving treatment.