Finding relief of a bulging disc by exercise

We have often heard back pain is probably as common as influenza, affecting most Americans and individuals elsewhere. We exercise to keep ourselves healthy. But only consider consulting a doctor or chiropractor when we have problems performing our daily routines. This condition (Bulging disc) is a common condition among young as well as the aged population of this country.

Neuro physicians recommend stretching exercises to ease Bulging disc. We first need to go over the anatomy of the back to comprehend how herniated discs affect the back and cause chronic pain. The backbone is a curved bone ‘S’ shaped structure. Vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other starting with the S1 to Lumbar L1 discs and concluding at the sacchrum and coccyx. The vertebrae are lined as building blocks of the back cushioned by soft-jelly like material that enables the back to absorb shock and injury to the back. The jelly like mass is in-between each vertebrae, it covers the circumference of each vertebrae.

Bulging disc is caused when the jelly like substance protrudes out of the vertebrae. Affecting all individuals young and old alike it results in chronic pain on the left or right side of the back. Occurring over a time period it affects the lower back or lumbar region. When the bulging disc is pinching a nerve surrounding the spinal cord, it causes pain or commonly called sciatica. Modern techniques like MRI’s are also used for diagnosing Bulging discs.

Physicians prescribe heat or cold therapy along with cortisone injections to treat bulging disc. Stretching exercises, physical therapy or yoga can be used for treating Bulging disc. Pseudo gout is considered to be inherited and affects the parathyroid glands. Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes misdiagnosed in place of pseudo-gout. A bulging disc is defined by the soft material moving away from the nucleus and protruding into the nerve region of the spiral column. Thus pain is caused and later results in sciatica affecting the left side of the back.

Gout is a condition resulting in deposits of uric acid between the joints. Pseudo gout and gout can also affect the spine resulting in severe back pain. Although, rheumatoid arthritis rarely affects the back it may affect the spine resulting in a condition called myelopathy. It results in inflammation and severe weakening of the ligaments and tendons that connect the vertebrae and leads to instability of the neck and the back. This condition is serious and life threatening.

Stretching exercises and yoga can alleviate the bulging disc condition. Individuals with chronic back pain due to bulging disc or herniated disc have found relief with simple stretching exercises. Different forms of yoga like knee rolls, knee lifts, pelvic twists, and sit ups can help low back pain. The goal of yoga or any back exercise is to strengthen the abdominal muscles to compensate for the loss of function of the vertebrae. Some of the common yogasanas that are recommended help in stretching the back and improve circulation to the vertebrae. Although caution is advised when embarking on bending and stretching exercise and should be done with help of a therapeutic and trained yoga expert.