Heal a Herniated Disc? You Bet You Can!

  Let me be very clear: despite what you may have been told, it is very possible to heal a herniated disc. Yes, I said heal... something that invasive surgery and long-term physical therapy can't do.

  Why haven't you heard this statement before? It's simply because most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists base their treatment on the diagnosis or condition (i.e., herniated disc), rather than on correcting the cause of the diagnosis / condition (e.g., muscle imbalance syndrome).

  Once you understand that something or some things have caused your disc to herniate, slip, bulge or otherwise become dysfunctional, you will be able to address that cause and choose alternative treatment options that will 1) correct the problem, 2) diminish the pain, and 3) prevent the disc from herniating again.

  With some clarity on what a herniated disc is, and what causes them, we can next look into the methods of healing them.

The "What" and "How" of Herniated Discs

  The term "herniated disc" is elusive. If you've ever been told you have a slipped disc, a prolapsed disc, a bulging disc, a ruptured disc, or even degenerative disc disease... they're essentially the same thing. The terminology just depends on whom you're talking to.

  Technically, a herniated disc occurs when the outermost part of the disc begins to weaken and the inner soft part starts to press outward. Most people don't even know they have a herniated disc until the herniation touches the nerve and many experts like DR. John Sarno even question whether herniated discs cause most of the back pain they are claimed to.

  But here's the kicker, numerous studies have proven that you can have a herniated disc and NOT have pain.

  The two most common reasons for a disc to herniate are trauma and muscle imbalances. Muscle imbalances are also called "postural dysfunctions." These dysfunctions put abnormal pressure on the disc that will cause increased wear and tear over time. Eventually, the weak spot will give way and make contact with the nerve, bringing you pain.

  The most important thing to understand about herniated discs is that, barring trauma, they do not happen overnight. You may become symptomatic very quickly, but it takes a long time for conditions to be right for the nerve to be put under enough pressure to cause pain. And even if the herniation is a result of trauma or accident, the treatment objective should be the same — to reduce pain and promote healing.

The Seeming Contradiction

  I wanted to also tell you that just because you have a herniated disc, does not mean it is causing your pain. In fact, it has been proven that many people live their entire life with herniated discs and never know it!

  Why am I telling you this? Because I don't want you to be afraid of this diagnosis / symptom. Once you understand that herniated discs are not going to kill you and may in fact not even be hurting you... you will release your fear based stress and anxiety about them, that could be causing your pain — or at least contributing to it.

  Many of us have herniated discs, muscle imbalances, trigger points... Some of us experience more pain than others. Some of us have received one diagnosis and others of us received another diagnosis. The doctors don't really know the exact correlation between your back pain and its cause. That is why we at the Healthy Back Institute take a pro-active, multi-corrective therapeutic approach.

  This means, we know your back pain hurts. And we know it can be caused by many things. And we know that even though you have received a certain diagnosis, it may not be what is actually causing your pain — even though the problem is there. We therefore promote a comprehensive and holistic approach to correcting the imbalances that — taken together — are creating health issues for you.

Our Healing Model

  There are more than a handful of surgical procedures for a herniated disc, all of which have two main goals: to take pressure off the nerve and to stabilize the joints. But these rarely work. Why? Because most mainstream treatments simply address the symptoms of the problem and fail to address its root cause.

  For example, even if you surgically remove a piece of the disc that's putting pressure on the nerve, the same muscles imbalances and dysfunctions still exist and they will continue to place that strain on your muscles, spine and discs.

  And that's why so many people who have surgeries end up having multiple... because surgery does NOT do anything to address the imbalances that are creating the dysfunctions, which lead to the bulges, herniations and other disc issues.

  And as I previously stated, you do not have to live with this pain or go through needless surgery or years of therapy to "fix" it. You see, your herniated disc is a physical problem, and so it requires a physical solution.

  To set the proper stage for long-term healing and preventive maintenance of your discs, you MUST consume sufficient water every day. Your discs are composed of about 70% water, and lack of water in the discs causes a narrowing of the space between vertebrae and eventual compression of the spine and/or spinal nerves. This causes pain. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water each day will do wonders for your discs and for your entire body system. It is essential.

  Other areas that must be monitored are your standing, sitting, sleeping postures. Improper posture can cause compression of vertebrae and nerves and over time, muscle imbalances — one of the root causes of herniated discs. Physical posture is so important in terms of correction and prevention, and keeping tabs on your negative emotions will go a long way to helping you maintain a healthy posture.

  Creating space (or decompressing) the spine is another key factor in healing herniated discs. Decompressing the spine with the use of an inversion table, inversion boots, lying backward over an inflated Swiss exercise ball... will stretch the spine, relieve pressure, increase oxygen and also blood flow. All of these things help to promote healing of a herniated disc... while continued use is a powerful preventive measure.

  Another discovery that is not commonly known is pain that is blamed on a herniated disc is often caused by Trigger Points. These are tiny, mine-like constrictions in muscle fibers that cause extreme pain and compress nerves. Finding a way to administer self Trigger Point Therapy everyday, immediately followed by and combined with Muscle Balance Therapy to restore balance and proper function of the muscles and joints, is a great way to relieve these issues.

  Psychologically, learning how to control oxidative stress, worry and anxiety will do wonders to reduce the stress-related muscle contractions that can lead to trigger points and disc herniation. Learn to take time for your self and relax. There are self-hypnosis programs available, or you can simply take time to listen to soothing music.

  Far-infrared heat can help immensely with stress. It is deep penetrating and dramatically improves the blood flow to the area in question and relaxes tight muscles for very quick pain relief and improved range of motion.

Conclusion

  While a herniated disc is a complicated condition, it is possible to heal it. Most people get the best results when they combine treatment approaches. For example, Inversion Therapy can be very effective, yet it will typically work even better when combined with Muscle Balance Therapy.

  Try some of the different approaches mentioned above, mix and match them. Every person is different, experiences pain differently, and the cause of their pain is different than others'. Take some time for yourself. Invest in yourself. Get to know your condition, your body and your pain. With this knowledge you will be able to design your own self-healing system based on our self-guidance.

 

 

Related Herniated Disc Articles and Information:
Spinal Decompression
Inversion Therapy
Vertebral Compression Fracture and Back Pain
Degenerative Disc Disease