Decreasing Lower Back Disk Problems

Lower Back Disk Symptoms

Lower back disk problems can be the result of a deteriorating spine, known as degenerative disk disease(DDD), or an injury. Anyone who's experienced lower back disc pain knows the agony of shooting, stabbing pain starting from the lower back or buttocks and then traveling into the leg (sciatica). Other symptoms can be weakened legs and feet as well as numbness. When in extreme pain, many patients consider surgery. However, although around 80 percent of adults will undergo some back pain in their lifetime, only about one to two percent will need surgery (See Resources).

Therapeutic Exercises

While lower back disk problems were once treated with long periods of bed rest, modern doctors only advise a few days. Following bed rest, doctors favor various therapeutic exercises. Typical exercise programs include stretching, flexing and extension exercises, but no low impact aerobics. Stretching exercises improve flexibility, while flexion exercises work on the vertebrae on both sides of the spinal column. Extension exercises improve strength in muscles and ligaments.

Spinal Manipulation

Physical therapists, chiropractors and even some traditional doctors use spinal manipulation to treat lower back pain and improve spinal mobility. Besides reducing pain, manipulation improves the degree of a patient's ability to physically function. Using their hands or other devices, practitioners apply controlled force to a spinal joint, moving it past its passive range of movement. The amount of force that's applied is related to the type of manipulation. For patients whose pain doesn't stem from a spinal nerve root, manipulation may not work during the first month, so benefits for them are unverified.

Medications

Doctors may prescribe drugs including anti-inflammatory muscle relaxers, anti-depressants, acetaminophen and even narcotics (although used only temporarily to prevent addiction) for acute lower back pain. Sometimes anti-depressants are recommended so patients can get more sleep and lessen depression caused by constant lower back pain.

Surgery

Surgery should only be a choice when nonsurgical treatment has failed, delaying it about six months to a year before deciding to do it. Also, surgery should only be done if your doctor can find the source of the pain. There are certain types of lower back pain that are untreatable with surgery. Spinal fusion is a welding that fuses the painful vertebrae together, helping them heal into a solid bone. Disk replacement, which is a practical option to spinal fusion, removes the disk, substituting artificial parts such as a knee or hip replacement surgery. Done through the abdomen, the procedure should allow improved flexibility and motion ability.

Resources

• Statistics: Lumbar Back Disk Surgery
• Spinal Manipulation for Lower Back Pain
• Lower Back Pain