Heat pack

Heat packs are a wonderful and simple pain relief device that has been used successfully for thousands of years. The application of heat will assist in reducing or blocking pain sensations to your brain and will also encourage tight muscles to relax. This will leave you with more movement and less pain.

Anti inflammatory medication

The natural response of the human body to any injury is the release of inflammatory cells. These irritate pain receptors in the injured area and create discomfort. Anti-inflammatory medication effectively blocks the pain receptors and decreases the pain sensation. They are especially useful if you are experiencing pain during the night.

Back brace

Whenever we experience pain in our back, the pain signal causes the core stabilizing muscles of the back to “switch off”. They effectively then require exercises in order to “switch on” and regain appropriate strength. While your muscles are strengthening, a back brace can be extremely useful in providing added support to your lower back. Many people report and immediate improvement on using a back brace.

Pilates

While it may be the latest fashion in sports and exercise, there is real benefit to be found from Pilates. Pilates exercises are based on improving posture and strengthening the “core” muscles. These are the same muscles that automatically switch off whenever we experience back pain! Pilates can re-strengthen the core and provide crucial support and reinforcement to your lower back. Make sure you participate in a Clinical Pilates class that is run by an experienced physiotherapist.

Walking

Walking is a wonderful, low impact activity that can help to maintain fitness throughout your life. It is also excellent for your lower back. The movement of your legs encourages gentle movement of the pelvis and spine, thus reducing stiffness. Being in a standing position can also reduce the loads and forces on the disc, thereby encouraging healing and decreasing pain.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists are experts at assessing and treating disorders of the spine. Getting help early can dramatically reduce your recovery time and get you back to work and sport more quickly. You will receive advice on exercises and movements to avoid, as well as those that encourage healing. Many physiotherapists are experienced at teaching pilates and can design a program to strengthen your back and prevent further injury in the future.

Get a few opinions

Have you really tried everything? Surgery of any sort always involve calculated risks that you must be fully aware of. Spinal surgery in particular can have various elements of risk associated. Be sure to try a number of conservative treatments (physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture) before you decide to walk down the path of surgery. For the majority, surgery can provide some relief but the degree of improvement varies from person to person.

McKenzie Exercises

Robyn McKenzie is a physiotherapist from New Zealand who developed a system of assessing and treating spinal problems, including disc injuries. Her exercises and advice are based on positions and movements that encourage appropriate “re-positioning” of the disc fragments. Once the disc is sitting in it’s correct position, it will not be impinging on nerves and tissues around the spine that can generate pain. Many physiotherapists are skilled in McKenzie therapy.

Hydrotherapy

Combining exercise in a warm environment where there is no gravity can be absolutely superb in relieving pain and improving your mobility.  

Avoid activities that irritate herniated discs.

Whenever we have  “herniated” or “bulge” a disc, it is usually displaced either backwards or backwards and to the side.

Warning: The following activities and positions can really irritate a disc problem:

Sitting

Bending towards your toes

Bending forwards and twisting at the same time

Lifting

Driving long distances

Yard work

Gardening

Choosing A Therapist

The following can help to relieve pain and pressure on an injured disc:

Laying on your tummy

Standing up

Walking

McKenzie exercises

Pilates exercises with an “extension” bias (ask your pilates instructor or physiotherapist for more information)

Brighton Bay Physiotherapy happily extends our services to patients including:

Private billing - claim with any private health fund which covers physiotherapy.
Workcover
TAC
Veterans affairs (DVA)
Medicare

FAQ