How to Recover a Slipped Disk

There are 26 bones, or vertebrae, that make up your spine. A jelly-like substance acts as cushioning between every bone. As you become older, or the more you engage in intense physical activity, the disks may become thinner and the cushioning less effective. When one of these disks slips, moves or is ruptured, it is called a herniated or slipped disk. This issue can cause serious back, neck and leg pain and complications if not taken care of immediately.

Things You'll Need

• Primary care physician
• Physical therapist
• Pain medicine
• Anti-inflammatory medicine

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Report the details of the problem to your primary health-care physician immediately. Depending on the particular nature of your injury, your doctor may prescribe medicine, physical therapy and even surgery.

• 2

  Begin a nutrition program with the goal of taking off excess weight, which can significantly reduce stress to the back and spine. To make sure you are reducing calories safely and effectively, your specific diet should be monitored by your doctor.

• 3

  Rest as much as possible. Stop all intense physical activity until you have been seen and cleared by a doctor to resume.

• 4

  Take anti-inflammatory and pain medicines as prescribed by your doctor. These medicines can prevent unnecessary pain and inflammation, as you take other steps on the road to recovery.

• 5

  Perform physical therapy exercises under the supervision of a professional. Different degrees of pain and injury will require different exercises. Your physical therapist will most likely have you engage in light exercise that strengthens the stomach, pelvic, spine and back areas and muscles.

• 6

  Schedule surgery for graduated disk problems, as recommended by your doctor. If you do not begin to heal within four weeks of rest, medicines and physical therapy, you may have a graduated issue.