Postero Medial Disk Herniation 

Leaning towards the side of pain

Keywords; postero medial disk herniation, chiropractic, antalgia, 50 percent less pain, lower back and leg pain)

Pisa sign

LEFT lower back pain

The medial disc is an enigma; it's easier to treat with chiropractic adjustments, and it responds much faster than its cousin the lateral disc, but it still takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal.

More medial discs end up in surgery because the pain often goes away after a few treatments, so the patient resumes normal living, bending and sitting before the disc has healed; and perhaps ignoring the rehabilitation program. So, it happens again; and yet once more. And then ultimately the patient goes under the knife when the leg pain becomes severe. That won't be you, though.

Notice here that our friend is leaning to the left; towards the side of pain. Easy come, easy go is the name of the game with medical discs. Or, more to the point, easy go, and comes 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 for the disc to heal, and perhaps longer if you've had the pain for some time. The disc has a poor blood supply and healing is only complete several weeks after the pain has abated. It's vital that you follow our slipped disc rules if you want to escape the knife.

The antalgic list, also known as a functional scoliosis, meaning it's temporary, is a very serious sign. Both standing and sitting are painful, and walking often nigh impossible.

Controversially, massaging bed rest is in my opinion the only option. It's not back by research which indicates that bed rest is not the solution to back pain.

Notice how the bulge in the picture below is in the so called armpit, medial to the nerve. Now our friend gets relief by leaning towards the painful side; to the left.

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

Remember, not all disc bulges go into an antalgic posture; it is in my book however, a very serious sign, often the prelude to radiating pain down the leg if those slipped disc rules are not taken seriously.

You'll soon notice that I'm not advocating just bed rest for a slipped disc. It's bed rest, plus exercise and ice once the disc has been reduced with chiropractic manipulation.

The lower discs affect the sciatic nerve and it's not difficult to test if the nerve is pinched; you can do it yourself using the slump test.

The higher lumbar discs affect the femoral nerve and that's more difficult to test for. 

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Slump Test

Sitting, in an ordinary chair, straighten your leg on the painful side parallel to the ground. It probably hurts, in the back, and perhaps in the same leg. This is the first phase of the Slump test for sciatica...

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.

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50 PERCENT LESS PAIN

POSTERO MEDIAL DISK HERNIATION

Once your chiropractor has reduced the displaced disk you will stand upright and there will be a dramatic relief of pain. But it WILL take 6 weeks to heal, perhaps longer, even though the pain may be gone in a week or two.

Do yourself a favour and go through the full rehab program, otherwise the chances are good that you'll be looking like Pisa again within a few months. 

GARDENING

The worst thing for the low back is the chair. Exercise is what will improve your spinal health. But heavy sports like squash and tennis, and gardening require that you follow the rules religiously. Lower back exercises every morning before getting out of bed, do a warm up and cool down program assiduously before sport and gardening

I used to suffer myself occasionally from a lumbar disc protrusion at L5 S1, but my back has gone from strength to strength since I have started heavy gardening in my semi retirement. But then I have a chiropractor in the house, my daughter, who cares for me periodically. I do my lower back exercises very faithfully, and have a treatment from her every six weeks. It's a good formula; it works.

So, what the real cost of low back pain in society? It has become the most expensive item in many Western countries' health budget. It could become your most expensive item. Take the first attack seriously, don't assume it happens only to other people and get started on your own daily exercise routine. 

In fact, I promote back exercises, like brushing teeth, for everybody, whether you've had a back problem or not. After all 80 percent of people are going to suffer these potentially crippling attacks of lower back pain periodically; these exercises take less than two minutes. Do them before getting out of bed every morning.

In fact, once you're in the groove, you can do them whilst still in that indulgent period between sleeping and waking. Wake up slowly and whilst saying your prayers or planning the day your body can go through the first moments of preparation for that busy day. 

Are you leaning away from the pain? The second common disc injury is called the postero lateral herniation, and you lean in the opposite direction; away from the pain. It needs to be managed quite differently but both demand a life long commitment to a daily exercise programme; or, suffer from chronic disabling lower back pain.