Slipped disc can cause severe back and leg pain. Some of the treatment options like medications, steroid injections, physical therapy, and surgery are discussed in this article. Read on, to know how regular exercise can help protect your back from severe damage.

Discs situated between the bones (vertebrae) of the spine enable the spine to tolerate stress. They act as protective shock-absorbing cushions, and make the spine stable and strong. Discs do not slip, they may split or rupture. A disc sometimes leaves its normal place due to wear and tear, excessive strain, shock, injury, or similar other reasons. When a small part of the disc bulges out of its normal position, it causes severe back pain. This condition is known as herniated disc or slip disc or slipped disc.

Symptoms
The symptoms may vary according to the damage caused by the bulging or ruptured disc. Which disc has slipped, and how much the structures are damaged because of that particular disc will determine the severity of pain and nature of symptoms.

• Lower or upper back pain
• Neck pain
• Hip pain, leg pain
• Affected bladder or bowel function
• Difficulty in standing, walking, sitting, or changing posture
• Tingling and burning sensation in the region of the bulging disc
• Numbness
• Weakness, muscle spasms in back, neck, or legs
• Fever, abdominal or chest pain

Sometimes the condition is asymptomatic.

Treatment Options
If the back or neck pain does not go away within a few days, or if you are experiencing restricted movement due to the pain, then you should consult your physician. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or myelogram (a contrast dye is injected into the spinal column) helps confirm the diagnosis.

Home Care: Minor cases do not require any special treatment. Patients should take complete rest for 2-3 days. Though difficulty in physical activity can be experienced, they need to move around after 2 days rest. This will accelerate the process of recovery. They should avoid lifting heavy objects, sitting for a prolonged period of time, stretching, etc. Applying hot and cold packs helps relieve the pain. Over the counters pain killers can be taken, if required.

Exercise: As the condition improves, back exercises should be performed under the guidance of a physician and physical trainer. Back stretching or strengthening exercises help improve the condition. Massage can also help improve the condition, but you need to consult your doctor. The doctor may recommend physical therapy. The exercises designed for the patients (considering individual needs) help alleviate pain. They help strengthen the muscles, increase the flexibility of the spine, and protect the back from any further damage.

Medications: Ibuprofen (Motrin) or other anti-inflammatory medications work great for pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) also helps relieve pain. Doctors prescribe medications like diazepam for muscle relaxation, which help avoid muscle spasms and muscle tightness. Use of narcotic medication for some time, or short course of corticosteroid injections may also be suggested. The injections contain hormones. When these hormones are injected into the spine, they provide quick relief from inflammation and pain.

Surgery: About 10% cases of slipped disc require surgery. If severe nerve compression is detected, and if symptoms do not improve (or if the symptoms worsen), the doctor may recommend surgery. In some cases, patients may exhibit very severe symptoms, such as increased muscle weakness, affected bladder function, or difficulty in standing and walking, etc. Surgery is the best option for them. Small protruding piece of the disc is cut away during the surgery. The procedure is known as discectomy, and is performed in various ways. Patients usually return to work after two to six weeks, but in case of some unfortunate patients, the surgery may not work at all. They might require further operations and treatment.

As explained above, slip disc treatment mostly involves performing some gentle exercises, painkilling medications, and massage. Surgery is considered as the last option. In majority of the cases, the bulging disc eventually shrinks back. When the disc stops pressing on the nerve, the pain also subsides gradually. Studies and statistics show that most patients get better without surgery. Maintaining your weight close to ideal can prove to be beneficial if you have had disc problem. Regular exercise helps maintain weight.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.