How To Differentiate A Herniated Disc From Back Pain?

While common back pain goes away after a few hours or after a while of rest, symptoms of a herniated disc can last for days or even weeks.

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems. In fact, it is estimated that 8 out of 10 people have suffered from it in their lifetime. There are several factors that can influence its onset as well as its intensity and duration.

The majority of pains of this type tend to be mild and disappear spontaneously, after a moment of rest or a few exercises in the affected area. However, in many cases the pain is recurring and may be due to a chronic problem that requires special attention.

Often times, people prefer to ignore back pain and think it is temporary and normal. Still, they should pay attention to it, because  it’s a red flag that means something is wrong.

Herniated disc is one of the conditions that people tend to ignore because they think it is a common back pain. However, be aware that the symptoms intensify over time and it is increasingly difficult to treat them.

This is why it is very important to know the difference between the pain of a herniated disc and a back pain, in order to provide them with appropriate treatment.

What is a herniated disc?

The vertebrae of the column are separated by kinds of pads, the inter-vertebral discs. These have the function of cushioning trauma and preventing the nerves from compressing.

These discs facilitate movement between the vertebrae and give the body the ability to perform movements, such as bending down or stretching to reach something. However, with the passage of the years, they lose their elasticity and are less and less flexible.

So the discs become more and more fragile. Faced with certain movements, they can go out of their place. And even break as a result of injury or excessive strain, causing a herniated disc.

One begins to feel severe pain in one of the sides of the body. Then numbness and brittleness, and that’s when you can diagnose a herniated disc.

What is the difference between a herniated disc and back pain?

The main symptom of a herniated disc is back pain that gradually increases in intensity. Hence the fact that it can be confused with a common pain.

To differentiate it, you should know that the pain caused by a herniated disc increases when you cough, when you try to bend your body or when you sit for a long time. While the pain subsides when lying down with the legs slightly bent or when walking.

Usually, the hernia presents a feeling of loss of strength, due to compression of the nerve roots. This does not happen when it comes to joint back pain.

If the problem is chronic because of the ruptured or damaged disc, the spinal cord may be damaged and the person may lose control over their urination and excretion patterns.

Plus, herniated disc symptoms can last for days or even weeks. Whereas a common back pain goes away within a few hours or after a brief rest.

What to do in the event of a herniated disc?

When faced with the symptoms of a herniated disc, the first step to consider is to seek immediate medical attention to assess the severity of the problem.

To treat this condition one of the options is surgery but it does not guarantee 100% pain elimination.

This is why many diagnosed patients have found different treatments in alternative medicine to improve this problem and prevent it from affecting their quality of life.

Here are some of these treatments:

• Thermotherapy
• Electrotherapy
• Lumbar traction
• Neck braces
• Belts
• Massages
• Hydrotherapy
• Pain relieving natural remedies

In addition to these therapies, it is also advisable to take into account other tips that can help calm the pain: 

• Sleep on a good mattress, with a board underneath.
• Adopt a fetal position for sleeping. With a pillow between the legs to prevent the hips from rotating.
• Avoid lying on your stomach.
• Be careful when getting out of bed.
• Rest for several hours, but not for long. Gentle movement is very important for recovery.
• Do not make any effort, for example lifting something very heavy.
• Walk or swim for 30 minutes every day, even when the pain is gone.