Herniated Disc L5 - Symptoms & Treatment
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What Does "Herniated Disc L5" Mean?
The most common spot for a herniated disc is at l5 level which can actually stand for two different discs:
- The L5-S1, which is the disc between the 5th lumbar vertebra and the tail bone
- The L4-L5, which is the disc between the 4th and the 4th lumbar vertebrae.
On this site we will take a look at the symptoms and some treatment options for a herniated disc at l5.
For more detailed information get a free copy of the back pain book and visit FixMyDiscDisease.info.
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc at L5
The most common symptom related to a herniated disc at l5 level is pain in the leg that is a radiation of the l5 or s1 nerve impingement. This pain is also referred to as sciatica pain.If you suffer from a l5 s1 disc herniation you will sense weakness when standing on your toes and feel the pain going through to the feet.
If your herniated disc is at l4 l5 you'll feel the weakness when raising the big toe and possibly pain on top of the foot.
Treatment for a Herniated Disc L5
What can You do to Get Rid of the Pain?
Conventional treatment for a herniated disc usually focuses on the symptoms of the condition and thus tries to provide pain relief. Some of these options are:- Medication - The most common used medication for lumbar herniated discs are anti inflammatory drugs, pain killers and relaxants. While most of these drugs offer some temporary pain relief, it must be considered that the pain will come back as soon as you stop to take them. Also, the mostly dangerous side-effects should not be under estimated.
- Physiotherapy - The herniated disc alternative treatment offered by physiotherapists helps you stretch and strengthen the muscles involved. This takes some pressure and thus some of the pain away and also makes the back more flexible and stable.
- Physical Exercise - Sitting too much in the same position puts pressure on the discs at l5 which causes sometimes terrible pain. Make sure you stand up from your desk and walk around often. Also, perform the right exercises for herniated discs
- Massages - A massage therapy mostly helps get some temporary pain relief, but massages are not a good method if you want to get lasting results. They should be used in a combined treatment program as an additional treatment option.
- Spinal Decompression - A spinal decompression helps separating back bones and thus take pressure from the involved discs. It is the most effective method for pain relief (read more about inversion tables & herniated disc).
- Epidural Steroid Injections - These injections contain a local anaesthetic and a steroid that helps calm the nerve, and usually starts working a day or two after the injection. Unfortunately this option is not very effective, and sometimes doesn't even work at all.
- Surgery - If all other treatments failed to help, a surgery for herniated discs can be taken into consideration. There are various types of surgery possibilities that are suitable for a l5 herniated disc condition. In order to take the right decision you should take your time for a thorough research on the topic.
Conventional Treatment only Helps Temporary!
Unfortunately most of these treatment options do not work in the longer run. The reason is that they all focus on treating the symptoms of the problem and not the problem itself.
In order to get rid of the pain for real, you must be able to find the root cause of the problem. It is wrong to assume that all patients with a herniated disc at l5 have the exact same condition.
In order to get rid of the pain for real, you must be able to find the root cause of the problem. It is wrong to assume that all patients with a herniated disc at l5 have the exact same condition.
Reader Feedback
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Joanne
Oct 7, 2011 @ 1:45 pm | delete
- I have two ruptured disks L4, L5. Also have sacroiliitis and arthritis and bursitis of my right hip. Doc says, it's what I make of it. I started to cry. I have been active my whole life and this is really getting to me. To those of you who suffer. I have found some relief using aqua therapy an underwater treadmill and physical therapy for strength resistance. It really takes the edge off, but I had to have the nerve blocks to be able to do this.
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DavidDove
Aug 28, 2011 @ 3:15 pm | delete
- Good stuff, thank you.
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lisad
Jul 27, 2011 @ 4:09 am | delete
- I am not sure how I hurt my back, but within 8 wks of when the pain started in my back then it ran down my rt hip + leg. Mri showed herniation l5-s1. Received 2 nerve blocks w/o much success. Pain is really bad, can't sit, sleep, stand any length of time. It has ruined my summer. Also fighting MS with this, + was told my back pain could be arthritis?! Hard not to go postal (lol)
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Gregory Fraser
May 6, 2011 @ 1:32 pm | delete
- Having sciatica can be extremely painful! I've had this disease a few years after having a DePuy Pinnacle hip implant. Lately though, there have been complaints from those injured with the Pinnacle device. I'm looking further into this at the DePuy Pinnacle Lawsuit website and trying to see if the device truly is defective. These problems simply give me a headache!
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lisa e
Mar 14, 2011 @ 10:13 am | delete
- have been suffering for about 9 months now, have not been able to sit on my tailbone at all.My doctors office just put me on naproxen and said I don't need any other treatment,don't know how much longer I can live this way.I am in constant pain anytime I sit.
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