Meet Reggie... and a bit of science!

"REGGIE" 

... HE was diagnosed through a private medical MRI in November 2019. It's the L3/L4 bulge that you can see in this image putting pressure on the nerves which caused the bulk of the pain. I had little pain in my Lumber (base of my back).

I had weakness in my right leg when I tried to stand, one moment I was fine and the next it would give way. The biggest issue was I was unable to sit (at all), I was just uncomfortable all the time with shooting pains in my buttock, hips and right leg down to my knee (Sciatica). 

As a qualified Homeopath and anti taking any tablets I was reluctant to seek medication but being so debilitated, and as I was mid changing jobs, my focus was to get back up and walking as soon as possible. I worked with my Chiropractor to start basic mobility exercises whilst on the maximum dose of Ibuprofen and also having acupuncture to relieve the muscle spasms but was still far from hiding the pain I was in.

The Ibuprofen did help, but I was also concerned by the dosage long term and I still wasn't getting very much relief. I wasn't sleeping well and my stress / exhaustion was most certainly not helping me have the energy to heal. I was prescribed 500g Naproxen (anti-inflammatory) every 12 hours with 2g Diazepam as a muscle relaxant. Within the 48 hours of the new meds I felt much better and started to be able to move around and release some of the the general stiffness my body felt from just being so still all the time. 

While it may be tempting to refrain from all physical activity while you’re experiencing the pain or discomfort of a slipped disc, this can lead to muscle weakness and joint stiffness. Instead, try to remain as active as possible through stretching or low-impact activities such as walking. (I'm going to follow the treatment/exercises up on a separate post for this interested).

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CAUSES AND SOME SCIENCE:

Everyone seems to always ask what causes a Slipped/Herniated/Ruptured disc but it really can just be anything. When you do those work courses on how to pick something up, follow it! Don't twist, don't take you back for granted, its easy when you don't have a twinge to remind you but we are not designed for the strain that most of us put our backs through. 

A slipped disc occurs when the outer ring becomes weak or torn and allows the inner portion to slip out. This can happen with age. Certain motions may also cause a slipped disc. 

Overweight individuals are also at increased risk for a slipped disc because their discs must support the additional weight. Weak muscles and a sedentary lifestyle may also contribute to the development of a slipped disc.

As you get older, you are more likely to experience a slipped disc. This is because your discs begin to lose some of their protective water content as you age. As a result, they can slip more easily out of place. They are more common in men than women.

Our spines are the absolute core of our stability, it carries the nerves from top to toe and between each of those vital vertebral body is a cushion called an intervertebral disc (think of this like a donut). They act as a shock absorbers in the spine, positioned between each vertebra. They hold the vertebrae of the spine together and allow for slight mobility in the spine.

Each disc has a strong outer layer called annulus fibrosus and a soft, gel-like center, called nucleus pulposus (think of this as the jam in a donut). There are fibers on the outside of each disc that attach to adjacent vertebrae and hold the disc in place.

When a disc ruptures, that jam is out of the donut and this can cause a chemical inflammatory reaction to the surrounding tissue and nerves, which may directly cause back pain.

Although it is possible to go back to the things you love and good mobility with a disc problem. However, if you would like to try and put some jam back i a donut after you've squishedit out, you'll understand this isn't an easy task! ... it takes work, dedication and time.

PREVENTION:

It may not be possible to prevent a slipped disc, but you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing a slipped disc. These steps include:

• Use safe lifting techniques: Bend and lift from your knees, not your waist.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Do not remain seated for long periods; get up and stretch periodically.
• Do exercises to strengthen the muscles in your back, legs, and abdomen.
• Stay Hydrated! Drinking water to adequately replenish the discs with the amount water needed to work properly can reduce the likelihood of developing back pain