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Herniated Disk
Herniated Disk PainThere is only as small chance that chronic back pain is the result of a herniated disc. A new disc injury can be painful, but the pain will most likely subside on its own. Very few disc injuries require long term medical intervention. Sometimes a disc can cause some neurological effects, such as in the example of cauda equina syndrome. These disc problems are the minority of all patient complaints, but it is wise to get a medical opinion if neurological symptoms are present.Why do so many patients have long lasting unresolved back pain from their herniated discs? The answer is rather simple. Herniated discs are a commonly accepted scapegoat for back pain. Everyone has heard countless horror stories of disc related symptoms. The nocebo effect of the mere words HERNIATED DISK will cause the start of pain in many patients. Doctors excel in diagnosing disk injuries and informing the patient that the pain is the direct result of the bulging disc. In some cases this is correct, but in the other 90%, this is a gross misdiagnosis of the actual cause of pain. Herniated Disk RealityThere is little proof that back pain is the result of most herniated disc problems. Often, the symptoms do not even make sense according to the clinical diagnosis. It is very common for patients to have pain, tingling, weakness or numbness in areas not affected by the disc injury. It is common for patients to have full nerve signal in areas that should be impinged by a herniated disc, yet have strong symptoms in other unaffected areas. Some patients will show a right side lumbar herniation at a given level, but suffer symptoms on the left side in areas not even related to that spinal nerve root. When this is the clinical picture, it is ridiculous to blame the pain on the coincidental disc herniation. However, it happens millions of times every year…Herniated discs are extremely common in the general population. Many people have one or more and do not even know it. These are often discovered by accident in an imaging study for a completely unrelated condition. How can disc herniations have such a bad reputation when the majority of them are completely asymptomatic? It makes no sense… Recommendation on a Herniated DiskDo not just accept that all your pain is the result of a disc injury. This is especially true if a herniation is discovered and you can’t even remember when it might have occurred. The odds are that your pain is from some alternate physical, or more likely, psychological cause. Remember that the vast majority of ALL BACK PAIN is caused by stress and emotional issues. Research your specific disc problem and compare the clinical picture to your actual symptoms. If they do not match, you are on the wrong path pursuing herniated disc treatment as a method of achieving back pain relief. Try knowledge therapy instead. You will be glad you did!!!
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