POSTERO MEDIAL DISK HERNIATION

Leaning TOWARDS the side of pain

POSTERO MEDIAL DISK HERNIATION (PM) is an enigma - it's easier to treat chiropractically but it still takes 6-8 weeks to heal. More PM discs end up in surgery because the pain often goes away after a few treatments, so the patient resumes normal living, bending, sitting etc, before the disc has healed, and perhaps ignoring the rehab program. So, it happens again. And again. And then ultimately s/he goes under the knife.

Notice here that our friend is leaning TOWARDS the side of pain. Easy come, easy go. Or, more to the point, easy go, easy come right back with a vengeance.

The pain may be gone in a few days, but it still takes at least 6 weeks with Chiropractic treatment, and perhaps longer if you have had pain for some time, for the disc to heal.

In short, with a Postero medial disk herniation you get relief by leaning TOWARDS the side of pain.

Now straighten the opposite leg. With the Postero Medial Disk Herniation, straightening the opposite leg often, though not always, hurts even more - on the opposite side. Usually in the back on the opposite side of the back. If it hurts in your opposite leg, then it is considerably more complicated. You will need to go to bed, and be patient. This isn't going to get better quickly.

Bizarre

Home treatment

1. Go to bed until you can stand up straight. It's usually a few days, depending on how long you've been looking like Pisa. Not continous bed rest, that's a NO-NO.

2. Do some specific exercises that your chiropractor will prescribe for you. Do them every hour, more often if you want.

3. Ice your back twice a day (or more, it's the best painkiller too), followed by a little warm, moist heat. A shower, a hot water bottle.

4. Every hour (roughly, there's nothing magical about 60 mins- shall we say regularly?) get up and walk around. Go to the loo ... perch on the edge of a desk for a bit, but don't sit. When your back starts talking to you, go and lie down again.

5. Please don't cough or sneeze. Blowing your nose will often stop a sneeze. Quickly! don't delay.

6. Follow your chiropractor's instructions to the T. This is a serious condition. Research shows that a higher percentage of patients with PM discs end up in surgery. I believe that is simply because they aren't prepared to, or don't understand that they must wait out the six weeks before playing silly buggers again.

7. Follow your chiropractor's rehab program ernestly. Please, take it seriously, then everyone ends up happy.

8. Don't sit for several days, and then as little as possible until you are much better. Sitting dramatically increases the pressure in the disc. DON'T SIT initially, and then for graded periods only!

9. Do not bend over if you have to pick something up off the floor. Go down on ONE knee. Don't squat. Absolutely don't bend and twist simultaneously.

10. Some new research shows that Lumbar belts (corset) help patients with LBP in regards to pain and function. Wear a belt for a week or two, especially if you simply have to go back to work. Try not to wear it all day. Lie down periodically during the day for five minutes and do the exercises.

11. Say your prayers and take your Postero Medial Disk Herniation seriously. The pain will probably go away quite quickly, but ... it comes back quickly too, if you aren't sensible. Believe me, I've been a chiropractor for thirty years.

From the coal face

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