Torn Disc Pain Relief by Chinese Medicine

A torn disc is defined as a rupture in the exterior layer of an inter-vertebral disc. Rupturing means the jellylike interior of a disc seeps through the tear and enters the spinal canal. A herniated, or ruptured disc is often referred to as a slipped disc. This represents a very painful scenario that is tough to pain manage for the patient. This is because the discs in the back are between each vertebra bone and act as soft and spongy cushions as you move throughout the day.

These discs are responsible for cushioning our spine as we bend, sit, stand and walk. So you can see, it's very tough to isolate this type of pain because these discs are involved in almost every type of movement we depend on throughout the day to accomplish work. If a disc happens to herniate beyond a bulge and ruptures, often surgery for many follows.

How does one slip a disc? If enough pressure is applied to the center of the disc it can cause the disc trauma by way of slipping one way or the other off of center. When this happens pressure is then put on, or against one or more spinal nerves that can cause varying levels of pain. Other painful conditions that can result from a slipped disc include: weakness, tingling or numbness in the neck and arms, etc.

There are many forms of treatment that include non-invasive techniques that does not further damage nerves and other soft tissues when repairing the tear. To include surgeries that can create post surgical problems after disc repair.

Fortunately, there are also many holistic and alternative practices that can help alleviate pain in a way that healing may occur through a period of time without surgery. If an alternative pain alleviation works for you, it may allow enough time for your back to heal naturally without unnecessary surgery. Typically, the healing time vs. pain pushes many into an unnecessary surgery

I recommend you google "torn, herniated, rupture, bulging disc and treatment." You'll then see many options that you can study up on. Today, I'll just be making a connection to help those with disc problems that are curious about acupuncture for pain relief. I can only share my personal experience and where acupuncture may be an option for you, if you'd care to try it. And since it helped me, it may benefit you. Also, it should be noted, acupuncture doesn't work for everyone. But if it does work for you, you'll be astonished on how it can reroute and eliminate pain!

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine and one of many good alternative treatments when it comes to pain relief and in dealing with slipped discs that have not ruptured.

Of course, I must state upfront, I didn't have a disc rupture. However, I do have degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease causes a slow ooze of the inner gel out of disc through time. This gel loss puts pressure on spinal nerves by way of narrowing the disc thickness, or space between vertebrae (cushion narrowing) as well as bulging disc pain that flares up occasionally. Although this condition is aggravating and varies in pain, it is manageable.

Acupuncture did wonders for me in terms of rerouting the torn disc pain signals [I have 4 slipped discs that I currently manage with acupuncture, and other pain medications]. Acupuncture works well enough for me, I've been able to avoid surgery for the last 20 years. And enough so I can moderately manage the remaining pain with medications. One of my severe bulging discs healed on it's own because the acupuncture rerouted the pain enough that the pain was tolerable during the healing process.

Does this mean my injured disc is as good as new? No it is not. And for the remainder of my life I'll have to manage my back pain with a combination of sensible therapies. But the point here, it is manageable back pain. And I don't have the complications most suffer after back surgery. Does this mean I'll never need surgery? No it does not. It's just something that has worked for me. And for now I'm managing an acceptable level of pain and good functionality.

Torn disc problems may heal "substantially" on its own if you can isolate and minimize the pain with acupuncture. In other words, no extreme twists, turns and bends while you go through a period of treatment. If it's severe chronic, you still eventually may need surgery [surgery should be your last recourse]. Only you and a physician can determine what's right for you.

If its not severe chronic. Try working on isolation exercise activities not to further aggravate but continue to circulate blood to expedite the healing process [slow stretches while lying on flat surface - research this on google using words like "heal back and torn disc and back stretch/movement activity]."

While at rest try lying on ice pack frequently throughout day if you can, or against the back of a chair, positioned in a way that does not cause more pain. Or go to home medical supplies and find a back ice pack harness that you can refreeze often and wear throughout the day. I've listed a few here for you to look at.

Take anti-inflammatory and ask your doctor for a prescription of muscle relaxers and pain killers to help throughout the day. Settling in for the evening is when the back tenses up. Muscle relaxants do a wonderful job at keeping the muscles relaxed.

But if you have seen a doctor, they may, or may not have recommended, or advised against some of these things due to severity of tear. I can't know your particular slipped disc severity.

I do recommend you be referred to a physiatrist if you feel you have significant pain (They specialize in acute/chronic Pain management), and have access to a whole lot of pain alleviation resources to customized a pain management program for you

And if necessary, surgery if it can't be avoided. Physiatrists, or osteopathic specialists would be the best to get counselling to see if your a candidate for the latest "non-intrusive" torn disc surgical repairs and spinal decompression.

Warning: There is a back injury severity that may cause further damage to the nervous system if surgery is not done within a short period of time. This is why you must weigh all the information with the back specialists and make the best decision for you.

It is advisable if you've not already done so, to request a referral from your primary, or back specialist to an acupuncturist if you've not tried this and you'd like to better manage your torn disc, or pain in general.

I wish you nothing but good health and a pain free back.