The best exercise to relieve the pain of a bulging disc
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Have we not heard the word back pain so often that it is as common as influenza affecting most Americans and individuals everywhere? We stretch, bend, jog or swim to keep fit and healthy. But we seriously consider visiting a doctor or chiropractor when our daily routine becomes a hurdle. Bulging disc is a common condition affecting young and aged population in our country.
Stretching exercises are recommended by neuro physicians to ease a bulging disc. To understand how herniated discs affect the back and cause chronic pain we first need to go over the anatomy of the back. The spinal column is an ‘S’ shaped curve. Starting from S1 to lumbar L1 discs are stacked one on top of the other concluding at the sacchrum and coccyx. Acting as building blocks of the back the vertebrae are cushioned by soft-jelly like material that helps the back to absorb shock and injury that may be caused to the back. This jelly like mass can be found in-between each vertebrae, it covers the area of each vertebrae.
Bulging disc occurs when the jelly like material protrudes out of the vertebrae. Known to affect individuals of all ages it causes chronic pain on the left or right region of the back. When occurring over a good length of time it affects the lower back also known as the lumbar region. When the nerve surrounding the spinal column is pinched by the bulging disc it causes pain or sciatica. Modern imaging techniques such as MRI are used when diagnosing a bulging disc.
Treatment for bulging disc prescribed by physicians includes heat or cold therapy along with cortisone injections. Bulging disc can be treated by stretching exercises, physical therapy or yoga. Pseudo gout is a condition that is thought to be inherited and affects the parathyroid glands. It is important to note that pseudo-gout can be mistaken or misdiagnosed for rheumatoid arthritis. A bulging disc is characterized by the soft mass slipping from its nucleus and protruding into the nerve region adjacent to the spine. This causes pain and results in sciatica affecting the left or right side of the back.
Deposits of uric acid between the joints results in a medical condition called Gout. Pseudo gout or gout can cause severe back pain. Rheumatoid arthritis rarely affects the back but it does affect the spine resulting in a condition known as myelopathy. It weakens the tendons and ligaments that are the connections for the vertebrae and eventually leads to neck and back imbalance. This can get very serious; at times even life threatening for the patient.
Bulging disc condition can be alleviated by stretching exercises and yoga. People have known to be relived from chronic back pain due to bulging disc with simple stretching exercises. Yoga ‘asana’ (forms) are i.e. knee rolls, knee lifts, pelvic twists, and sit ups can help low back pain. Stomach muscles are strengthened when yoga or any back exercises is done which compensates for loss of function to the vertebrae. Common yogasanas are recommended which help in stretching the back to improve circulation to the vertebrae. Before taking up such bending and stretching exercises one should be cautious and should it should be done in the presence of a therapeutic and trained yoga exert.