Physical therapy for ruptured discs is used to control the symptoms associated with your ruptured disc, enabling you to resume normal activities like playing golf, swimming, and sleeping through the night without pain.
A ruptured disc occurs when the disc’s outer layer breaks and the gel-like nucleus inside bulges out against your spinal cord or a nerve root. Ruptured disc causes vary from aging, to injury, to spinal conditions such as degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.
Thankfully, physical therapy for ruptured discs can be beneficial to those patients suffering from ruptured disc symptoms like:
- Lower back and leg pain
- Muscle spasms
- Tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness
- Shoulder, arm, or chest pain
- Sciatica
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your doctor. He or she can determine if the pain you feel is caused by a cervical ruptured disc, thoracic ruptured disc, or lumbar ruptured disc. Treatment options may include over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, coupled with physical therapy.
Physical therapy for ruptured discs can alleviate your pain as well as improve your strength, range of motion, and flexibility. Therapy can involve:
- An evaluation of your current flexibility, strength, posture, and other physical abilities
- Testing for the limits of your range of motion
- Strengthening and stretching exercises
- Learning proper body mechanics
- Soft tissue massage
- Adjusting your ergonomics at home and at work
- No-impact or low-impact aerobic activities
Physical therapy can not only help you learn how to manage your symptoms, it can also teach you correct posture to reduce back or neck strain. However, there are times that some patients may require more than physical therapy. At Laser Spine Institute, we offer free MRI or CT scan reviews, as well as consultations on our minimally invasive endoscopic procedures that can gently remove ruptured disc material and put an end to your symptoms. Contact us today for more information about our institute, and learn how we can put you back in the game of life once again!
