A herniation disc can put you on your back. Find relief from shooting leg pain with AIM advanced therapy

1800 W Woolbright Road, Suite 101

Boynton Beach, FL 33426

Phone: (561) 733 7677

Fax: (561) 733 7074

Personalized manual physical therapy to end your pain and restore your quality of life

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Herniated / Bulging Discs And Back Pain

There are many misconceptions on bulging and herniated discs. The discs are fluid filled sacs in-between the vertebrae in your neck and back which provide cushioning to the spine and give the joints space. As we age, our discs dry and shrink causing a loss of height over time. This tends to occur after age 50 and most patients will experience more arthritic changes after this age. The primary age group for people affected with herniated discs is between 25 and 45. A bulging disc is the beginning stages of a disc herniation and is typically not symptomatic. Many patients seen at AIM who have had MRI’s of the back are concerned about a bulging disc. However, a large percentage of the population is walking around with bulging discs right now without any problems.

Bulging discs can become worse and “herniate” into the space where the nerve roots from your spinal cord are coming out. This can occur at any level in the spine, but most of the time this occurs in the mid part of the neck and the lower back. A herniated disc is diagnosed by correlating your symptoms. An MRI can help in the process of diagnosing, but is not absolutely necessary. If you have back pain in the morning, struggle to attain erect posture, experience numbness/tingling to a specific part of your arm, hand, leg, or foot, or complain of sharp, stabbing back pain you may have a herniated disc. Often you may have sharp back pain or shooting pain in the leg. Common areas of herniation in the back are L5 and L4.

Unlike muscles, which can heal somewhat quickly, a torn or degenerated disc heals slowly. The good news is that in many cases, the pain and inflammation originating from damaged discs can be treated non-surgically by reducing the inflammation and by strengthening the musculature surrounding the damaged disc to give it more support.

Patients with a herniated disc are commonly prescribed physical therapy. A well-rounded rehabilitation program assists in reducing pain and inflammation, improving mobility and strength, and helping patients do their daily activities with greater ease and ability.

Special extension exercises can help relieve pain from a herniated disc. Exercise can work like a vacuum to suck the center of the disc back into place, helping release pressure on the nerve. Our team can also alleviate pressure on the disc by making sure the smaller muscles of the spine, such as the multifidi, are coordinated and strong.

The therapists at A.I.M. Physical Therapy can decrease stress on herniated discs by helping the joints above and below the herniation move correctly with specialized manual therapy techniques which are safe and gentle. We also specialize in a spine and core strengthening program to assist spinal segment support.

How AIM Therapy Helps Your Back

AIM manual physical therapy is the natural way of helping your body recover from back pain. At AIM your spine is extensively evaluated by an expert physical therapist who has years of training in medical evaluation of musculoskeletal conditions.

Your physical therapist then discusses with you as he evaluates your spine the findings and formulates a plan of addressing the root causes of your pain. The plan may include modalities such as ultrasound to relieve your pain, specialized gentle manual therapy to increase your soft tissue and joint mobility, and a customized easy to do exercise program to strengthen key areas.

The key to a great recovery is a customized treatment plan just for you. At AIM Physical Therapy we have the knowledge and exclusive skills to treat your back pain and get you back quickly to enjoying your activities.