Acute Disc Injury Treatment
Acute Disc Injury Treatment
Acute Disc Injury TreatmentAcute low back pain is a very common complaint; with approximately 80% of people experiencing it within their lifetime, most often those between the ages of 35 and 55 years old. Acute disc injury is a very common cause of acute low back pain. The good news is that acute low back pain is most often self limiting, with a recovery rate of 90% within 6 weeks and no prolonged loss of function. However, prompt treatment facilitates a significantly quicker recovery. Additionally, a delay in seeking treatment can result in a greater risk of developing a protracted and ongoing complaint. Although pain levels can be high, most cases (about 85%) do not have a serious pathological cause. However, it is common for acute low back pain to reoccur, with approximately 60-80% of sufferers experiencing a recurrence within two years. It is important for patients seek and receive appropriate treatment and management to allow speedy recovery and to prevent re-occurrence.
Acute disc injury used to be referred to as a 'slipped disc'; however, this terminology is not commonly used nowadays as it does not accurately reflect the injury. Now terms including disc bulge, disc protrusion, disc prolapse, disc herniation and disc sequestration are used to describe acute disc injury.
Anatomy, Pathology, Signs and Symptoms
Please refer to the Lumbar disc pathology' information sheet on the LifeCare website.
Mechanism of injury
The classic mechanism of injury for an acute disc injury is bending forwards to pick up an object. The movement does not have to be large and the load is often minor (i.e. you don't need to have been picking up something heavy). Another common cause of injury is impact to the spine, such as when landing from a height or from a direct blow (e.g. in a motor vehicle accident).
Treatment/management
It is important to see your doctor or physiotherapist so that they can do a thorough assessment to rule out any serious conditions and provide you with treatment. After a full examination has been done by your doctor or physiotherapist, if there was nothing found suggesting a serious pathology then there is generally no need for any types of further investigations (such as x-rays etc). However, if you experience any of the following symptoms it is important that you seek immediate medical care
- Weakness in legs
- Sensory loss in the buttocks/groin area, or in both feet
- Bowel or bladder incontinence
In general, physiotherapy treatment for patients with acute disc injury may include
- Education about your condition and advice on home management
- Advice on pain relief strategies
- Teaching and prescription of home exercise programs to assist in recovery and prevent re-occurrence
- Soft tissue techniques
- Joint mobilisations/manipulations
- Use of electro-therapeutic agents to assist with pain relief and tissue healing
It is important to remember if you have been diagnosed with an acute disc injury that the prognosis is very good and most people make a full recovery. Acute disc injury is rarely a dangerous condition and you should expect a rapid recovery. Although you may be experiencing pain, the best way in which you can assist in your recovery is by keeping active and continuing with your normal daily activities (including work) as much as possible. In this case, pain does not indicate that you are doing yourself any damage. Prolonged bed rest should be avoided as it has been shown to slow recovery and increase chances of chronic disability.
In regards to sport, although vigorous activity is unlikely to cause any harm, if you play heavy contact sports (e.g. rugby) it may be best to avoid these during the early stages. Returning to work as soon as possible is extremely important for both your physical and psychological recovery. It's vital to return to work in a timely fashion, even if you are required to modify your duties for a period of time (e.g. if your work involves strenuous lifting of heavy objects etc).
When you have an acute disc injury maintaining the natural inwards curve in your lower back is important. When sitting, pulling up tall and avoiding slouching' helps to achieve this. Putting a rolled up towel or small pillow between your lower back and the back of the chair, sitting with your bottom all the way to the back of the chair, and sitting on a firm, flat surface can also help. When bending, it is important to keep your back straight, and bend at your hips and knees. Additionally, doing some gentle back extension' exercises (arching/leaning backwards) within pain limits can be useful in acute disc injury. Your Physiotherapist can specifically advice you on this.
For more information see your LifeCare practitioner
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/acute-disc-injury-treatment-3806818.html Chicago Workers Compensation Claims Is Important For Injured Workers Automotive Article On Classic Morgan Mexican Auto And Car Insurance Plan A Few Tips Overcome Golf Injuries How To Save Money On Auto Insurance ? Need To Replace Your Windshield ? Why You Want Oem Auto Glass Pennsylvania Automobile Coverage – The Legal Requirements Auto Diagnostic in Focus Car insurance quotes For Young People Auto Title Loans: An Inside Look At The Application Process Naples GMC Envoy dealer excited to see revolution in American auto industry Procuring Auto loans Sacramento Scottsdale Auto Body Shop is Helping Customers Save Money in Poor Economy- Waiving Deductibles