Back pain sucks. Like really sucks.

It’s the type of issue that can make a good night’s sleep into a distant memory or a night out with friends into a miserable experience.

With so many reasons why back pain occurs, it can be hard to know why your back is acting up.

Maybe it’s due to a slipped disc?

It may be the case, so in this article, we’ll be talking about what is a slipped disc, what you can do about it, and how Bowen therapy can be a great option.

Let’s talk about the spine

The most vital part of your back is your spinal cord. The spinal cord is composed of 33 individual vertebrae that interlock with each other, to create a ‘spinal column’. There are 4 primary areas of the spinal cord, the cervical area; connecting directly to your skull, the thoracic and lumbar area; acting as the mid-section, and lastly the sacral area; connecting to your hip bone.

Between every vertebra, there are small hardened disc-like objects that contain jelly-like fluid core called spinal discs. The primary function of these discs is to absorb shock, align the vertebra together, and allow for flexibility in the spine. In other words, spinal discs allow you to move your back freely and prevent your spinal cord from fracturing.

So needless to say these, little guys are really important.

So what is a slipped disc?

A slipped disc, also called a herniated disc, is the condition where the jelly-like core of a spinal disc pushes out through the hard exterior and becomes fully or partially exposed, usually due to a tear in the exterior of the disc. This usually causes a lot of pain and discomfort.

At it’s worse, it can cause loss of bowel and bladder control, but often times causes mild-to-severe back pain.

How do I know If I have a slipped disc?

So how do you know if you have a slipped disc or not?

Here are some common symptoms of a slipped disc:

• One sign is having pain in your legs. Typically speaking, the part of your spine just above your hips (lumbar spine) is most likely to be affected by this condition. It’s pain usually appear in the form of pain around your buttocks, upper thighs, and sometimes calves area.

• Another sign is muscle weakness. Performing your daily activities below your normal ability — such as stumbling when walking, not being able to lift light objects, or dropping object when attempting to grip.
• Pain that worsens with muscle exercise, and gets better with rest.
• Pain that worsens with cough and sneezing.
• Sometimes burning or radiating pain is reported.
• Tightness around key joints, such as the shoulder.

Risk Factors

There are certain types of individuals that are more likely to be affected with this condition:

• Individuals with excess body weight and high body fat percentage.
• People who work physically demanding such as construction workers, landscapers, handymen, etc.
• Older individuals are more likely to suffer from this condition due to natural age-related break down of the spinal cord and its discs.
• Individuals who smoke.
• Individuals who sit for prolonged periods

Diagnosis

Although the above symptoms may give you a clue as to whether you have a slipped disc or not, it doesn’t guarantee it.

To confirm whether you have the condition or not you should go to your doctor and ask them to image your spinal cord. Your doctor may choose to give you an MRI, CT scan, Electromyogram, a nerve conduction study or even an X-Ray to confirm the diagnosis.

What can be Done About it?

There are usually a few different types of treatments available to people who have been diagnosed with a slipped disc depending on the severity of the case.

Surgery is the most invasive option and is typically reserved as a last option, due to the potential risks associated with it. Surgery will usually be recommended if the individual has lost bowel and bladder control, cannot stand up properly, etc. A surgeon may just remove the protruding part of the disc, or in rare cases implant an artificial disc.

In most cases, surgery is not a requirement and may be treated with physiotherapy, home remedies, acupuncture, or Bowen Therapy.

Bowen Therapy Can Help

Bowen therapy is a holistic treatment that targets soft fascia through a hands-on non-manipulative treatment with the thumbs and forefingers. Not to be confused with Chiropractic and Physiotherapy techniques, Bowen therapy does not manipulate bones but aims to balance the body through applying very gentle stimuli to the connective tissue such as cartilage and tendons, and select muscles.

Bowen Therapy is designed to stimulate nerve pathways and initiate the body and brain’s internal healing response. This then allows the muscle to return to its natural resting length, and relieve tightness in the body. Bowen Therapy aims to address the underlying cause of symptoms and bring permanent results.

During a session of Bowen Therapy, a therapist will target small portions of your body at a time, using different pressures, and speeds. Depending on the individual case, the therapist may or may not include breaks in between treatments, which is thought to allow the body to start the body’s internal healing processes and relax any irregularly contracted muscles. Bowen Therapy treatments don’t require any sharp movements, turning of joints. A typical treatment session can take anywhere between 15-45 minutes, and often times does not require clothes to be taken off.

Patients of Bowen therapy have seen a substantial decrease or complete disappearance of pain, and muscle weakness associated with slipped discs in just 1 session. With that in mind, it typically takes 4 sessions of treatment over a 3 to 5-week period. Plus, it’s typically cheaper than many of the other options out there.

Click here to learn more about Bowen Therapy and if it’s right for you.

This is not medical advice; this article was created for informational purposes only. This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not delay seeking medical advice or disregard it due to any content on this website or included in this post.