Winter is really an obsession for the herniated disc patients as, the cold weather makes the pain worse. However, many people still do not know how to reduce the pain, even they do not know that they have a herniated disc. In this article, we will share with you some signs of a herniated disc and how to relieve pain in the winter.
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Signs of herniated disc
Herniated disc is a common disease among people in their 30s to 50s. This disease has 3 stages with 3 different symptoms.
1. Sudden pain
Patients will suffer from sudden pain in the neck, waist, and the limbs. The pain can be dull for a few days, weeks or months or even longer. The more it moves, the more it hurts
2. Numbness hands and feet symptoms
During this period, the mucous membrane of the intervertebral disc will compress the nerves causing pain, numbness in the lumbar, the neck area and gradually spread to the buttocks, thighs, and heels. At this time, the patient will suffer from sensory disorders, in which they always feel like ants are crawling underneath their skin.
3. Muscle weakness, paralysis
This sign appears when the disease is severe. In this stage, patients can hardly move, the patient can hardly move even may have muscle atrophy, paralysis of limbs.
8 tips to reduce the pain of herniated disc
In cold weather, the herniated disc will cause even more pain. Most people can endure the pain for four to six weeks by using medications and following the therapist’s recommendations. However, in case of severe pain, we need to find other ways to reduce the pain and heal disc herniation. Here are some ways to relieve the pain of herniated disc in the cold season.
Seeing a physiotherapist
In all cases, seeing a therapist is always the best solution. Especially when the pain is getting worse in winter, all you need is a therapist.
They will accurately identify your current condition and give you a treatment plan to handle the pain in the future. It is important that once you have found a therapist, you must work with them to get the best results.
Foot Immersion
Soaking your feet in warm salted ginger water is recommended for people with a herniated disc in the winter. This method improves blood circulation, detoxifies your body and brings a better sleep.
If you do not have much time, you can buy salt ice-box which is more convenient and simple than soaking feet in warm water. You just plug-in electricity, the box will warm up after 10 minutes. Then put your feet in the box for 30-45 minutes to warm the acupuncture points in the legs and spread to the whole body.
Hot and cold compresses
Apply a heating pad or ice pack to the affected area can temporarily relieve pain and inflammation. You should do it regularly for 10 to 15 minutes a day.
However, this method is only applicable for mild herniated disc symptoms and it can only provide temporary pain relief. If you want a definitive treatment, you need to consult specialists to figure out the most appropriate treatment.
Massage
Massaging help blood circulation and reduce pain effectively. However, some massage methods can be more painful for patients. So if you do not know some massage techniques, you should go to the specialized health care center for massage.
Note, after the massage, you should wear a coat and mask when going out to avoid catching a cold.
Careful movements
Herniated disc patients should be careful with their movements. Strong movements will put more pressure on the disc, causing even more pain.
Do not stand or sit for a long time. Keep your back straight while lifting heavy objects, avoid bending over and over. Besides, keeping a good posture when standing or sitting is essential. Especially, women should not wear high heels or the pain will increase.
Meditate
Meditation can relieve pain immediately by stabilizing your breath. In some cases, meditation can calm your mind and help you forget the pain. In addition, doing meditation in winter also warms up the body, which contributes to treating various illnesses. Today, many patients seek meditation, yoga or traditional medicine for osteoarthritis diseases. Refer to https://thoatvidiadem.net to better understand relevant pathological knowledge.
When meditating, patients need to keep their backs straight, take a deep breath, relax their minds as much as possible to increase the effectiveness.
Do exercise
During the winter, most people are too lazy to do exercise, especially those with herniated discs because the movements make them feel more painful. However, there are now more exercises to help the muscles and bones of the herniated disc more flexible.
The physiotherapist can give you exercises to reduce the pressure on your disks and spine for easier movements. The exercises will help your bones grow stronger, decrease the pressure on the disc, thereby causing pain to subside.
Using pain medicine
Using painkillers is the most common yet effective way to reduce their pain quickly. Ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen are some popular choices for pain meds.
However, these medicines provide only temporary relief and will not completely cure the disease. Besides, you should not abuse the medication in the winter. The cold weather may bring various ailments, and taking too much medicine will weaken your immune system.
The sooner the sign of a herniated disc is discovered, the more likely it is to cure. As soon as you recognize the signs of the disease, you should seek a specialist who will give you the best advice for treatment. Don’t forget to apply the methods I shared in this article to better treat your illness in the winter.
