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Check your symptomsWhat’s a Slipped Disc and how can it be treated?
July 8, 2019
Writer Fisayomi Aturamu talks about having Slipped Discs – how do they happen and how to treat them.
The human spine consists of small, mobile bones known as ‘vertebrae’.
So, they not only provide support for the back but also enable us to move our bodies in different directions.
In the spine, these mobile vertebral bones have discs which act as cushions between the vertebrae to prevent friction.
The discs have 2 parts: a gel-like centre called the nucleus and an outer ring called the annulus.
These discs are the shock absorbers of the spine.
Also, there are two nerves; one on each side of every disc branching out to the body. [1]
A slipped disc is also known as a
It occurs when the nucleus cracks or ruptures through a weak area in the outer ring.
This may be as a result of wear and tear, trauma or some other illnesses.
Mayfield clinic describes this scenario ‘as similar to the filling of a jam doughnut squeezing out.’
When this occurs, the gel from the nucleus irritates the spinal nerves around the disc.
Now, this results in inflammation and may manifest in symptoms such as
The more severe the damage to the disc, the more intense the symptoms.
The pain from a slipped disc may resolve within a couple of weeks (up to 6 weeks).
It is important to speak to your health care provider if any of the symptoms develop,
For mild pain symptoms, simple over-the-counter (OTC) medicines like Paracetamol, Ibuprofen can provide relief in the first instance.
Now, if stronger pain relief is needed, then prescription-only opiate-based medicine such as Codeine can be used; and for nerve pain in particular drugs like Gabapentin, Pregabalin, Duloxetine, and Amitriptyline are effective.
Alternative medication options
Joint injections with steroids (Cortisone); which can be injected directly into the affected area to reduce inflammation; or
Epidural injections: this involves a procedure where a trained clinician injects
The medications that can be used in epidural injections for pain relief include steroids, anaesthetics, or anti-inflammatory drugs.
In addition to pain relief, they can help reduce swelling and inflammation around the spinal nerve roots.
Another type of medication that can help to manage the symptoms associated with slipped discs are muscle relaxants – they reduce muscle spasms which can cause significant pain.
Physiotherapy and Surgery are other options for treating Slipped Discs.
With these treatment options, there are practical measures individuals with slipped discs could
In conclusion, the pain and disability experienced from getting a slipped disc varies per individual and the diagnosis can only be confirmed by a doctor.
Investigations such as X-rays and more specialized scans such as MRI could be requested by the doctor to help reach a diagnosis.
Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid complications.
Always seek medical advice when back pain becomes more severe or you develop new symptoms.
These could include any form of dysfunction:
Read more:
References
Edited by AskAwayHealth Team
Disclaimer
All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising Medical Practitioners on a wide range of health care conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and to help promote quality health care. The advice in our material is not meant to replace the management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner.
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