All You Need to Know about a Slipped Disc
Do you ever marvel at the complexity of the human body? It really is an amazing work of art and, thankfully for us, is also a very reliable machine. However, sometimes it can play up and this can manifest itself in many different ways. These issues may be accompanied by a variety of different aches and pains and some of these can be more significant than others. On the far end of the scale and something that is likely to prompt you to take immediate action is a slipped disc. This can be difficult to understand, but not necessarily a serious problem to treat. What is involved and how can you get relief?
Moving Discs
A disc is essentially a layer of cartilage that weaves its way in between your vertebrae. There are a variety of different discs and they should each occupy a certain space and perform a specific function. However, as you get older these discs become less supple and can "bulge" or protrude into the spinal canal. Think of it as a form of hernia, where a part of the cartilage pops out of place while remaining attached to its source.
Pain Ahead
Unfortunately, any unusual movement like this will cause a reaction somewhere else and, in this case, the disc will bulge into some nerves that run up and down your spinal column. As it does so, these nerves will send a warning message to the brain and the net result is excruciating pain.
Signs of Trouble
You may not know that something is wrong until you move in a certain direction or try and lift a heavy object without proper form. You may be in agony and unable to move at all for some time and you will certainly suffer from a decreased range of motion until you get some assistance.
Who Can Help?
Begin by picking up the phone and calling a chiropractor for their advice. They have come across this problem many times before and after asking you some questions, will be able to advise you what to do next. It's likely that they will want to see you as soon as possible, but in the meantime, you can try to make some simple adjustments to ease the pain.
Get Immediate Relief
Try to avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time and leave those heavy boxes alone until you're recovered. If you find it difficult to sleep at night, try putting a pillow in between your legs and sleeping on your side.
When you take advantage of chiropractic services, you will be much closer to overcoming this debilitating pain and getting back to normal life.
