You can only understand the excruciating pain of your lower back after experience a slipped disc. For those who are experiencing at the moment, those who have already experienced it, and those who do not want to experience it again, I would like to tell you what you can do now, immediately after it has happened, and the countermeasures.
image by storyset on Freepik
Severe low back pain with fear
With patients with slipped disc, there are those who can move fairly well, can't move at all, can move slowly, and have difficulty starting to move but once in motion they are okay.
In addition, there are various people who are fine during light movements such as walking, but cannot stand up depending on the chair they sit on.
Those with these symptoms often asks me:
"Do I have a slipped disc?"
There is no clear definition of slipped disc, and the patient's symptoms may improve or worsen narutally after certain point. That's the hardest and interesting part of the human body.
Some cannot move at all on the treatment table due to severe pain.
The tension from the pain disturbs their breathing.
If the patient is in this state, I'd say they most certainly they have a slipped disc.
When you have a Slipped Disc – 2 things to remember
First of all, I do not recommend that people who are "completely unable to move" visit the clinic. It's because it's going to make it worse by pushing themselves to get here.
At this time, the most important thing to remember is:
"Relax your mind and body"
I would like you to be as comfortable as possible and away from work and stress. Of course, this is easier said than done. However, a slipped disc is not necessarily the result of carrying a heavy object, but there are many cases where psychological factors such as work pressure and stress plays a big role.
The second most important thing to remember is:
"Move your body within the range you feel comfortable"
This can be done with the body parts that is away from your lower back, such as a hand or foot. Your brain is constantly telling you to tense your body, which is frozen with pain and fear. However if you can move certain parts of your body, your brain sends a message saying:
"I am comfortalbe to make this movement"
This sense of security is important.
However, since there are big difference depending on the each individuals with regard to how quickly you can move from step 1 to step 2, I would like you to work carefully without rushing. It's also not good idea to rest too much or do nothing at all out of fear. Please keep in mind, you should keep on moving as long as it's comfortable for you, without pushing yourself.
How to stay calm during severe pain
If you can do step 1 and 2 little by little, you may still feel pain but you will also be calmer little by little. It's still hard to move freely, but you can calmly see the situation you are in and your condition. When you are in the middle of pain, you often don't know what to do, but when you are calmer you can think about wha't the best thing to do next.
When you are in this state it is the best timing to start treatment.
This blog post focuses on what you can do yourself and self-care before coming to the clinic, but of course once you come see me I will do my very best to treat your symptoms and your pain. The synergistic effect of the patients' effot and my effort has proven to give the best results time and time again.
Please keep in mind, even after you start to come see me and start the treatment, I would like you to continue the step 1 "resting your mind and body" and step 2 "moving your body within the range of comfort".
Symptoms of slipped disc can be accompanied with anger and sadness as well as pain.
If this applies to you, please don't hold it to yourself, and talk to me if you feel comfortable to do so.
Negative feelings such as stress, anger and sadness can actually cause pain to your body, and I dont' mean it as a metaphor. It is the best to let these feelings go, if possible, to help the healing process of your body.
The patient will be placed in the most comfortable position, the location of the pain and the range of movement will be confirmed, and then the effected nerves will be examined.
Performing this process as carefully as possible will promote recovery of symptoms.
This is what I value as primary care.
Finally
In this blog post I spoke about what I would like you to remember and try when you get a slipped disc.
In the next blog post, I will talk about the treatment process for slipped disc at my clinic.
Daisuke Tazawa
BODYWORKS AZABU
*At BODYWORKS AZABU, you will receive treatment in a semi-private space.
*Please feel free to bring small children with you.