Intense lower back pain. Pain that radiates down through your legs. Numbness and tingling in your legs or feet. Sound familiar? All are symptoms of a lumbar herniated disc. Fortunately, physical therapy offers effective treatment options that can help relieve the pain and improve your mobility without the need for surgery.
At Schultz Physical Therapy, our team has extensive experience helping our patients recover from a lumbar herniated disc. Today, we want to share more information about this common condition, including symptoms, causes, and our all-natural approach to treatment.
Keep reading to learn more!
A Deep Dive into Herniated Discs in the Lumbar Spine
Between each of your vertebra is an intervertebral disc, a spongy, gel-filled structure that acts as a shock absorber for your spine. A lumbar herniated disc occurs when one of the discs in your lower spine bulges or ruptures. If the herniated disc puts pressure on nearby nerves, it can cause a variety of symptoms, such as the following:
- Pain that radiates from the lower back down to the legs
- Numbness or tingling in the legs or feet
- Weakness in the leg muscles
- Difficulty standing or walking due to discomfort
Herniated discs often occur due to the natural age-related decline that can happen to your intervertebral discs. The discs dry out as you age and lose their flexibility, making them more prone to injury. Repetitive strain and prolonged sitting can also increase the likelihood of a herniated disc.
Sometimes, they also develop due to improper lifting techniques or attempting to lift something that’s too heavy for you.
How Physical Therapy Treats Lumbar Herniated Discs
We’ll start with a comprehensive assessment to ensure we understand the severity of your condition and how it impacts your daily life. During the assessment, we’ll take a health history, perform an in-depth physical examination, and review your specific symptoms. Based on our findings, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to help you feel better and function better.
Here are some of the treatment techniques we might suggest:
Manual Therapy
- This hands-on approach uses different techniques, such as spinal mobilization or careful manipulation of the soft tissue in your lower back, to reduce stiffness, improve range of motion, and facilitate your body’s natural healing processes.
Pain-Relieving Modalities
- In some cases, we might suggest modalities such as ice or heat therapy or electrical stimulation to ease discomfort and further promote healing.
Therapeutic Exercise
- A targeted exercise program is the foundation for a good lumbar herniated disc treatment program. We’ll guide you through exercises to strengthen your core muscles, which help support and stabilize your spine, relieving pain and preventing future injuries.
Personalized Tips and Tricks
- Our physical therapists can teach you how to modify your movements and avoid positions that stress your lower back, helping you manage your condition and prevent future episodes.
Find Relief from Herniated Disc Pain Today!
The back and leg pain that can accompany a lumbar herniated disc can have a significant impact on your quality of life, making it hard for you to do the activities you love. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer. Schultz Physical Therapy is here to help you find lasting relief.
Schedule an appointment at our Bogalusa, LA, and Franklinton, LA clinics to get started!
