Slip disc | Lower Back Pain
Slip disc in medical terms known as Prolapse intervertebral disc (PIVD), or Herniation of disc. The disc is a soft structure present in between the vertebra. And the purpose of a disc is to act as a cushion between the vertebras. Also, it allows movement and allows the absorbance of shock.
There are two main areas where a disc will cause a problem, the neck, and the lower back. The disc is made up of two main kinds of structures, inner & outer. In the inner is a gel-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. And At the outer, the disc is made up of various rings that are called annulus fibrosus.
Over years the outer layers of the disc become thinner or they become slightly torn. It may not happen overnight unless you have some trauma or injuries. And once your annulus fibrosus become weak or torn the central part that is the nucleus pulposus starts to push out toward the back and toward the side. This is called a slipped disc or bulging disc. This may further progress to a later stage known as prolapse. In Prolapse the nucleus pulposus leak out of the annulus fibrosus. Discs are not literally slipping off from their position but it’s just the herniation of the disc.
Due to the nucleus pulposus being pushed out of the disc it may compress the nerve. And compression of the nerve can cause a lot of pain. Even at the stage of the bulge, this can cause some neurological symptoms such as paraesthesia, pain, weakness, etc.
Symptoms of Slip disc
Symptoms of Slipped disc are pain, numbness, paraesthesia, weakness, and pain in coughing or sneezing. If you have a Slip disc in the lower back then the symptoms might be sciatic type like pain in the buttock, which radiates down the back of the leg, weakness in the leg, and difficulty in walking. In some severe cases, the patient might have difficulties in urination and constipation as well.
Cause of Slip disc
Slip disc can be caused by poor mechanics, poor postures like sitting a long time, not being fit, being overweight, or lifting heavy objects with poor lifting technique, The most common type of movement that causes Slip disc is flexion and twisting type movement If the sleep disc is not treated, then there is a chance of the nerve can end up permanently in a state of damage, weakness, or pain.
TREATMENT OF SLIP DISC
Traction is a very useful way to pull the disc.
Thermotherapy for pain reduction. Apart from this we can use dry needling and cupping therapy.
Cryotherapy (to reduce initial inflammation & muscle spasm)
Mobilization & manipulation techniques.
McKenzie press-up.
Spinal muscle strengthening exercises (superman exercise, all four kickback exercises, prone lying leg raise exercise).
Bridging for the strengthening of gluteal muscles.
Stretching exercises (hip flexor stretching, hamstring stretching, stretching of low back musculature).
Cat & camel exercises.
Massage therapy (will help to ease back pain by increasing blood circulation, and relaxing the muscle).
Core muscle strengthening exercises.
Ergonomic modification.
Cognitive behavior therapy.
Proprioception/coordination/balance exercises.
Therapeutic modalities (such as-Short wave diathermy, Combo therapy & Phonophoresis)
