Slipped Disc Treatment and Prevention

A slipped disc, also known as a herniated disk, is the most common cause of neck, arm, back or leg pain. It is estimated that 2% of people get a slipped disc annually. Slipped discs are most common among those aged between 30 to 50. Men are also twice as likely to get a slipped disc in comparison to women.

Slipped Disc in Singapore

Likewise, a slipped disc is one of the most common back problems faced by Singaporeans.

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What is a Slipped Disc?

Our spine is made up of 24 bones known as vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a small disc that helps to absorb shock, as well as allowing your spine to bend and move. A slipped disc happens when the soft part of the disc protrudes or bulges out from the disc. This can happen anywhere along the spine, causing pain to your neck, arm, back or leg, depending on where the slipped disc is located.

Symptoms of a Slipped Disc

Symptoms of a slipped disc usually include pain, depending on where along the spine the slipped disc has occurred and whether the slipped disc is pressing against a nerve. Symptoms of a slipped disc can include:

Sharp or burning pain. The location of the pain will depend on where the slipped disc has occurred.
Numbness or tingling. If your slipped disc is pressing against a nerve, you may experience numbness or tingling.
Muscle weakness. The pressure put against your nerves by the slipped disc may cause the associated muscles to be weakened. This can make it difficult for you to walk normally or lift and hold items.

Risk Factors for Slipped Disc

Factors that may increase your risks of developing a slipped disc include:

Being overweight or obese. This puts more pressure on the spine, especially on the discs in the lower back.
Occupation. Occupations that require hard labour involving repeated actions such as lifting, pulling, pushing and twisting will increase your risk of developing a slipped disc.
Gender. As mentioned earlier, men are approximately two times more likely to develop slipped discs compared to women.
Age. Slipped discs are most common in those aged 30 to 50.
Smoking. The nicotine in cigarettes can cause blood flow to your spine and spinal discs to be reduced. This results in the spinal discs breaking down at a faster rate.
Being seated or standing in the same position for prolonged amounts of time.
Sedentary lifestyle. A lack of regular physical exercise can increase your risk of developing a slipped disc.

Complications of a Slipped Disc

If left untreated, slipped discs can be severe, leading to serious health complications. These include:

Worsened pain, numbness or weakness. Left untreated, symptoms of pain, numbness or weakness may worsen, affecting your ability to carry out daily activities and causing a loss in quality of life.
Chronic pain. Depending on where the slipped disc is located, it can cause you chronic pain due to nerve compression. For example, nerve compression in the lower back can lead to chronic sciatica, a type of pain starting in the lower back that radiates towards the leg and foot due to a pinched sciatic nerve.
Loss of bladder and bowel control. A slipped disc can put pressure on the nerve roots at the end of the spinal cord. This is known as Cauda equina syndrome. If these nerves remain compressed for a long period of time, your ability to control your bladder, bowel and legs may be affected. This can lead to permanent damage to the nerves as well as a loss of bladder and bowel function.
Saddle anesthesia. Saddle anesthesia refers to a condition where a loss of sensation of the inner thighs, the back of your legs, and around your rectum is experienced. This is caused by a compression of the nerves as a result of your slipped disc.

Diagnosing a Slipped Disc

To diagnose a slipped disc, your doctor will first carry out a physical examination to find out the cause of your pain and discomfort. Your reflexes, muscle strength, ability to walk and ability to feel sensations will also be assessed if required. Your doctor will also go through your medical history and your symptoms.
For an accurate diagnosis, imagining tests for your bones and muscles may be required. These include:

X-rays. Normal X-rays are unable to detect slipped discs, but can be used to check for other possible causes for your back pain.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Test. An MRI can be used to pinpoint the location of a slipped disc as well as the affected nerves. An MRI uses radio waves and a magnetic field to create detailed images of the body’s internal structures.

If nerve damage is suspected, nerve tests may be required. These include:

Nerve conduction study. Electrodes are placed on the skin to assess the function of your nerves and search for nerve damage.
Electromyography (EMG). A needle electrode is used to penetrate your skin into your muscles to evaluate the electrical activity of your muscles when contracted and at rest.

Preventing a Slipped Disc

A slipped disc can happen to anybody and can be unavoidable. However, there are steps that you can take to lower your risks of having a slipped disc injury. These include:

Proper lifting technique

When lifting heavy loads, make sure that you use your leg muscles to assist you instead of straining your back muscles. You can do this by bending your knees and keeping your back straight instead of bending your back while lifting.

Maintaining a healthy weight

Being obese or overweight results in additional strain on your lower back since the weight it needs to support is heavier. A healthy body mass index (BMI) ranges between 18.5 and 24.9.

Exercise regularly

Exercising regularly not only helps to keep your weight in a healthy range but also strengthens your back and abdomen muscles. These muscles are crucial in supporting your spine by taking off the strain from your spine.

Quit smoking

The nicotine from cigarettes reduces the blood flow to your spine, weakening your spinal discs and increasing your risk of developing a slipped disc. By quitting smoking, you can improve the health of your spinal discs.

Stretching regularly

Sitting down for extended periods of time can be detrimental to your spinal discs. Standing up to stretch your back regularly can help to reduce stiffness and relieve pressure on your spine.

Keeping good posture

Good posture is crucial to the health of your spine. Be it walking, sitting or standing, you should try to adopt good posture so that your spine is not under additional strain as a result of compensating for your poor posture.

Treatment Methods for a Slipped Disc

Conservative treatment methods usually fare well for slipped discs. Medication and physiotherapy can be used to manage slipped disc pain when necessary. In rare cases where the slipped disc is causing severe issues, surgery may be required to improve your symptoms.

Medication

Pain medication. For mild to moderate pain, pain medication that can be acquired without a prescription may be sufficient to alleviate your symptoms. These include drugs such as:

Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen
Naproxen Sodium
Etoricoxib

Neuropathic drugs. These drugs relieve pains symptoms by suppressing nerve impulses. These include drugs such as:

Gabapentin
Pregabalin

Muscle relaxants. Muscle relaxants may be prescribed if you experience muscle spasms as a result of your slipped disc.

Surgery

In rare cases, a slipped disc may require surgery. The surgeries required for each individual case will depend on where the slipped disc has occurred, its severity and its impact on the rest of your body. A combination of surgeries may be required as well.

Laminotomy/laminectomy

During a laminotomy, an opening in your vertebral arch (lamina) is made so that the pressure on the roots of your nerves can be relieved. If required, the entire lamina may be removed. This is known as a laminectomy.

Discectomy/microdiscectomy

During a Discectomy, your surgeon will remove the part of the herniated disc that is putting pressure on your nerve root. In some cases, the entire disc will need to be removed. The size of the incision that has to be made will depend on your condition. Microdiscectomy refers to a minimally invasive form of discectomy, where a very small incision is made.

Artificial disc surgery

This surgery is used to replace one damaged disc in the lower back. The damaged disc is replaced with an artificial disc via an incision in your abdomen. This surgery may not be suitable for everyone. If more than one of your discs show degeneration, or you have arthritis or osteoporosis, artificial disc surgery will not be suitable for you.

Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion is a surgery where two or more vertebrae are permanently fused together. Bone grafts are used to maintain the right height between the bones.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a common treatment method for patients suffering from a slipped disc. Your physiotherapist will prescribe an individualised exercise program based on your body’s condition. The program will aim to strengthen your associated muscles, recover your range of motion and improve your posture in general. Gentle cardiovascular exercises may also be introduced. The goal of physiotherapy is to help you manage your pain better, and recover your range of motion and muscle function, to the point where you are able to carry out daily activities as usual without a loss in quality of life.
Exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine can help to relieve pressure on the spinal column. Exercises that improve the flexibility of these muscles, as well as your spine, can be effective in preventing future slipped discs. Under the guidance and supervision of a trained physiotherapist, your training program should be progressive, starting out with gentle exercises to avoid injuries and slowly intensifying as your body gets stronger. In addition, these exercises can often be carried out at home once you have mastered them.
Common stretching exercises recommended for patients with slipped discs include:

Neck stretches

Sitting upright, move your chin towards your chest, then back against the headrest.
Tilt your head towards your left shoulder, then back towards your right shoulder.

Hamstring stretches

Seated Hamstring Stretch

Begin seated on a chair
Extend one leg outwards, fully extended with your heel on the floor.
With your back straight, lean forward over the extended leg. You should feel a stretch along the back of your upper thigh.
Hold the position for about 15 to 30 seconds.
Switch legs and repeat.

Lower Back stretches

Back Flexion Stretch

Lie down on your back.
Pull both knees towards your chest.
Shift your head forwards, towards your knees until you feel a stretch across your back.
Repeat.

It is recommended that you consult your physiotherapist before carrying out these stretches as they may not be suitable for everyone.
Your physiotherapist may also recommend physiotherapy services such as a deep tissue massage or dry needling to improve your symptoms and help you manage your pain better. These treatments can be carried out in conjuncture with your physiotherapy for optimal results.

Manual Therapy and Exercises

Physiotherapists use hands-on techniques like mobilisation and manipulation to realign the spine, reducing pressure on the affected disc and improving mobility. Specific exercises are prescribed to strengthen spinal-supporting muscles, improve posture, and increase flexibility, especially focusing on core strength to stabilize the spine.

Hot and Cold Therapy

Alternating between heat and cold applications helps reduce pain and inflammation around the affected area.

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation can help manage pain by sending electrical impulses to the affected nerves.

Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy uses high-frequency sound waves are used to generate heat deep within tissues, promoting healing and reducing pain and inflammation.

TCM for Slipped Disc

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach to managing slipped discs, prioritising natural treatments, minimally invasive therapies, and holistic care to address both the symptoms and underlying imbalances contributing to the condition. In TCM, the focus is on restoring balance to the body's energy systems, promoting natural healing processes, and supporting overall well-being.

TCM Acupuncture

Acupuncture, a key component of TCM, involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points along the body's meridians to promote the flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood. This stimulation helps alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and support the body's natural healing processes. Acupuncture is minimally invasive and can provide significant relief for slipped disc symptoms.

TCM Herbal Medicine

TCM herbal remedies are formulated to address the underlying imbalances contributing to the slipped disc while providing natural pain relief and reducing inflammation. Herbal formulas may include a combination of herbs with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and tissue-regenerating properties. These natural treatments support the body's innate healing abilities and are tailored to individual needs and constitution.

TCM Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, which helps increase blood flow, release muscle tension, and promote healing. This minimally invasive therapy can provide relief from slipped disc symptoms by reducing pain and stiffness in the affected area. Cupping therapy is often combined with other TCM treatments for enhanced therapeutic effects.

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