Herniated Discs - How Can You Prevent Them?

Our spinal disc resembles a jelly donut, wherein the softer insides are protected by the hard exterior. Sometimes, as a result of some injury or an accident, the jelly slips out, leading to an extremely painful condition which in medical parlance is known as herniated disc. The pain that you are subjected to, during herniated disc, occurs as the nerves nearby are damaged due to the concussion.

Usually there is a history of low backache or neck pain in the past. Apart from pain, herniated disc is preceded by other symptoms, some of them are:

1. Pain in the arm or the leg: Depending on which part of the body you have suffered the herniated disc, in the neck or in your lower back, this condition is succeeded by intense pain either near the buttocks or near the shoulders. It goes without saying that this pain increases sharply with movement.
2. Numbness: That part of the body where the nerves are damaged due to herniated disc often becomes numb and has no sensation whatsoever.
3. Weakness: Due to herniated disc, the muscles become weak that considerably impairs and curbs mobility. Such muscle weakness can become permenant if not treated at an early stage.

However, there are various ways by which you can prevent a herniated disc. Some of them are:

1. Exercise: Exercise in any form and even for a short while yields several benefits. Your body invariably gains momentum and agility. If you exercise daily, your spine becomes more stable and strong, thereby preventing a possible herniated disc. It is strongly recommended to consult an orthopaedician before starting any exercise regime. Wrong exercises and improper form can further worsen the problem. Avoid activites like bending forward, overhead activites or lifting of heavy weight as these can worsen a herniated disc.
2. Maintaining the right and good posture: A lot depends on the way you sit and walk, in fact, more than you can imagine. If you sit badly, it exerts a pressure on the spine and the discs. Subsequently, a good posture does the very reverse and curbs chances of a herniated disc in the future.
3. Keep a tab on the weight: It is always healthy to maintain the right weight, the one that keeps you away from the onset of various diseases. If you are overweight, it puts more pressure on the spine disc, thereby increasing the risk of developing a herniated disc.