Have we not heard the word back pain so often that it is as common as influenza affecting most Americans and individuals everywhere? We stretch, bend, jog or swim to keep fit and healthy. But we seriously consider visiting a doctor or chiropractor when our daily routine becomes a hurdle. Bulging disc is a common condition affecting young and aged population in our country.

Stretching exercises are recommended by neuro physicians for Bulging discs. Let us review the anatomy of the back to understand how herniated discs affect our back and promote chronic pain. The back or vertebrae is a curved bone S shaped structure. The vertebrae are lined on top of each other and starting with the S1 to Lumbar L1 discs ending at the sacchrum and coccyx. Consider the vertebrae as building blocks of the back cushioned by soft jelly like mass that absorbs shock and injury to the back. The soft mass in-between the vertebrae or the jelly like material is aligned with the circumference of each vertebrae.

Bulging disc occurs when the jelly like material protrudes out of the vertebrae. Known to affect individuals of all ages it causes chronic pain on the left or right region of the back. When occurring over a good length of time it affects the lower back also known as the lumbar region. When the nerve surrounding the spinal column is pinched by the bulging disc it causes pain or sciatica. Modern imaging techniques such as MRI are used when diagnosing a bulging disc.

Treatment for bulging disc prescribed by physicians includes heat or cold therapy along with cortisone injections. Bulging disc can be treated by stretching exercises, physical therapy or yoga. Pseudo gout is a condition that is thought to be inherited and affects the parathyroid glands. It is important to note that pseudo-gout can be mistaken or misdiagnosed for rheumatoid arthritis. A bulging disc is characterized by the soft mass slipping from its nucleus and protruding into the nerve region adjacent to the spine. This causes pain and results in sciatica affecting the left or right side of the back.

Deposits of uric acid between the joints results in a medical condition called Gout. Pseudo gout or gout can cause severe back pain. Rheumatoid arthritis rarely affects the back but it does affect the spine resulting in a condition known as myelopathy. It weakens the tendons and ligaments that are the connections for the vertebrae and eventually leads to neck and back imbalance. This can get very serious; at times even life threatening for the patient.

Stretching exercises and yoga can alleviate the bulging disc condition. Individuals with chronic back pain due to bulging disc or herniated disc have found relief with simple stretching exercises. Different forms of yoga like knee rolls, knee lifts, pelvic twists, and sit ups can help low back pain. The goal of yoga or any back exercise is to strengthen the abdominal muscles to compensate for the loss of function of the vertebrae. Some of the common yogasanas that are recommended help in stretching the back and improve circulation to the vertebrae. Although caution is advised when embarking on bending and stretching exercise and should be done with help of a therapeutic and trained yoga expert.

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