bulging disc symptoms can be very serious, and can result in quite a bit of disability. This article will discuss the most common symptoms associated with a herniated disc in each region of the back, as well as some recommendations for what you can do at home for relief.

But before we discuss the symptoms, we need to first have an idea of how a herniated disc causes pain. The discs of the spine are cushions that separate each set of vertebrae in the back. They are shock-absorbers, and they are each composed of two main parts – a strong outer covering called the annulus, and a soft jelly center called the nucleus.

If you take a close look at the back, what you will see is that the nerves of the spine are located directly behind each disc. These nerves are very important, because they control everything in the body.

When a disc bulges, the outer covering of the disc is damaged, and the jelly begins to shift from the center of the disc, into the area where the disc has been damaged. This creates a bulge in the disc, and unfortunately, the disc will usually bulge right where the nerve is located.

This causes pressure to be applied to the affected nerve, which is truly what causes most of the symptoms associated with a herniated disc.

In fact, one interesting fact about the spinal discs is that they do not have the ability to feel pain sensations – in other words, even if the disc is damaged, you can’t feel it. This makes sense when you consider that the discs are absorbing shock throughout the day – if you could feel this, you would be in pain all the time!

So, the question is – if this is the case, why can this problem cause so much pain? Well, the answer is because the nerves are affected – the aggravated nerve is actually what causes all of the symptoms.

With this in mind, let’s discuss the most common symptoms of a bulging disc that can occur in each region of the spine. Let’s begin with the neck, and work our way down.

A herniated disc in the cervical spine (neck) will usually cause symptoms such as neck pain and/or stiffness, headaches, shoulder, arm and hand pain (which may be experienced as sharp pain, burning, stabbing, numbness, or a pins and needles sensation), dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, thyroid problems (which can result in weight problems), chest pains, and even heart palpitations (a feeling that your heart is pumping strongly in your chest).

This is a perfect example of what I was mentioning earlier – as you can see, these symptoms can involve much more than neck pain. The reason for this is because these body areas are controlled by the nerves in the neck, and pressure on a cervical nerve from a herniated disc will cause these parts of the body to malfunction.

The most common symptoms of a herniated disc for a thoracic disc (mid-back) are mid-back pain, shoulder, arm and hand pain (same as in the neck – the type of pain can vary), radiating pain around the rib cage, chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, neck pain and tension, headaches, and digestive problems (the nerves in the thoracic region of the spine control the gall bladder, which is a very important organ involved with digestion).

In the lumbar region (low back), the most common symptoms are low back pain and weakness, pain radiating down the leg (this pain can be a sharp pain, burning, stabbing, pins and needles, or numbness), leg weakness, knee pain, problems with the bowel or bladder, and sexual organ dysfunction.

So, when these symptoms occur, what can you do about them? Unfortunately, most of the therapies doctors typically recommend are not as successful as most would like them to be. They may result in temporary relief, but long term relief is not common with the traditional treatments.

Most doctors will recommend medications (usually pain relievers and muscle relaxers), pain injections (such as cortisone and epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery (as a last resort, typically). The reason these therapies do not usually result in long term relief is that they are primarily focused on numbing the aggravated nerve.

This may sound good on the surface, but if you do not deal with the cause of the problem (the herniated disc), the pain will inevitably return.

After working with thousands of individuals who suffer with this problem, I’ve found that there are actually a number of therapies that do address the disc itself, and a combination of these therapies are usually most effective at providing relief.

In addition to this, there are a few things you can do from home for relief from symptoms of a herniated disc. The most common mistake I see people make with this problem is that they want to use heat for relief.

This is actually the worst thing you can do – ice is always the best option when you are experiencing pain. Ice will numb the nerve, and reduce the inflammation in the problem area. Heat, on the other hand, will just aggravate the nerve and lead to additional swelling around the nerve, which causes the pain to last longer than it has to.

When using ice, apply it over the injured disc for 15 minutes, and wait at least an hour before you apply it again. You will need to repeat the treatment multiple times for the best results, and if you’re in a lot of pain, expect to use the ice consistently for at least 3 days before you experience considerable relief.

If you would like to learn more about the most successful therapies you can use to alleviate symptoms of a herniated disc, you can click here (back pain disc symptoms) for the full details.

Many women complain everyday about the pain in their feet after wearing high-heeled shoes. However, many women feel obligated to wear these shoes for the sake of fashion. Our feet were not created to wear high heels, and that is the main reason why wearing them causes women so much pain. A fashion expert may say that fashionable footwear in general is not designed for comfort and pain-free walking either. The main purpose of our feet is to give us balance and the ability to walk and run. However, wearing high-heeled shoes can change the structure and shape of the feet, which can not only cause improper foot function, but also cause severe pain.

When women wear high heels, their feet tend to slide towards the front of the shoe, inevitably forcing their bodies to redistribute their weight while creating unnatural pressure points and disrupting the natural alignment of our body. There are multiple benefits from using high heel shoe inserts. Arch support insoles help by supporting the foot and keeping it from sliding down.

High heels can be the culprit in a number of foot ailments. Some of the most common conditions include ball of foot pain, bunions, callous and corns, Achilles Tendonitis, hammertoe, and many others.

Metatarsal pain, a common effect of wearing high heels for prolonged periods of time, takes place when one or more of the metatarsal heads become inflamed due to too much pressure. This condition causes acute pain of the metatarsal area of the feet, which is found below the toes. Wearing high heel inserts can help to alleviate the pain caused by wearing high-heeled shoes.
Symptoms of metatarsalgia are characteristically a burning and tingling sensation around the ball of the foot. Many people also complain of extensive callusing in the same region.

Advice to Minimize Foot Pain After Wearing High Heels

• Stay away from narrow shoes.
• Stretching before any physical activity is important.
• Always bring spare running or tennis shoes.
• Refrain from wearing high heels every day.
• Opt for high heels that have chunkier heels than stilettos.
• Ensure that your feet and toenails are clean always.
• Remember that leather shoes are better than synthetic materials.
• Hold back from purchasing pointed and exceedingly high heeled shoes}.
• Wear orthotic shoe insoles to correct foot mechanics and walk more comfortably.
• Stick to one heel height. Having shoes of multiple different heights can trigger irritation of the Achilles tendon.
• Get regular foot massages to alleviate muscle soreness and improve circulation of blood.
• If you feel constant pain in your feet, get medical attention.
• Buying shoes in the afternoon or at night allows a better fit.

It is important to remember that healthy feet are much more important than style and fashion for our long-term health and well-being.

Foot pain in runners can become an excruciating experience. Once you encounter heel or arch pain, it may be difficult to adjust your lifestyle if you are used to being active. It is important for runners to be aware of the symptoms and treatments for some of the more common types of heel or foot arch injuries. Understanding the different types of sports injuries is the key to effective treatment of heel pain in runners.

What is Plantar Fasciitis Pain?

Plantar Fasciitis Pain is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick, fibrous band of connective tissue in the sole of the foot that supports the arch of the foot. It runs from the ball of the foot to the heel. This band of tissue supports your full body weight when the feet are on the ground. Inflammation occurs when this tissue is stretched too far and tears. A sudden movement or the effects of long-term stress can cause this condition.

Heel Pain In Runners May Often be Caused by Plantar Fasciitis Pain

Plantar fasciitisis a common type of heel pain in runners for a number of reasons. Runners often have exercise routines that are simply too long, and too stressful on the feet and plantar fascia, especially those individuals who suffer from flat feet. Repetitive stress on the plantar fascia can be caused by wearing shoes that lack support and running routines that are too long. Inflammation occurs as the fibers tear, causing severe pain.

The following are some of the more common causes of Plantar Fasciitis:

• poorly-fitting footwear and inadequate arch support
• weight gain
• abrupt increase in physical activity such as playing sports or running
• over-pronation of the feet

Heel pain is commonly felt on the bottom of the foot, where the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone. Typically, the pain is most severe in the mornings when getting out of bed, because the fascia shortens and tightens while you sleep. Upon rising from bed, the sudden stretch and load of your body weight pulls on the attachment to the heel bone. Symptoms of heel pain in runners vary from mild to severe. The pain may linger for months at a time, with pain increasing and decreasing in an unpredictable pattern. Often, the pain vanishes for several weeks, only to re-emerge full-blown after a single workout or change in activity.
You may experience a decrease in pain when walking. Runners often develop Plantar Fasciitis, and along with the causes listed above, may be caused by sudden intensification in your training schedule, or by switching running surfaces. This is noticeable, mostly when going from a soft surface to a harder one.

How to Avoid Plantar Fasciitis Pain

While plantar fascitis pain can be treated, it does not heal quickly. heel pain in runners can be avoided in a number of ways. Most sports physiotherapists recommend the following approach to prevent Plantar Fasciitis:

Use Suitable Footwear and Orthotic Arch Supports – Ensure that you have good footwear. Many cases will benefit from wearing arch support inserts inside the shoes to improve foot biomechanics. Going barefoot is a bad idea, even at home. Avoid shoes without arch support, and try running on a soft surface.

Ice – Icing the heel area will help decrease the inflammation and pain. Set your foot on a bag of frozen vegetables or a frozen bottle of water wrapped in a towel three or four times a day for five to ten minutes each time. Never ice more than once an hour to prevent risk of ice burn to desensitized tissue.

Change Your Activity – Consider swimming or cycling, as they may be a better exercise option for you. When you do try running again, begin at a much lower level of intensity and a shorter distance, then you can build up gradually. Lessen the time you spend on your feet and reduce the intensity of your training.

Stretch – before, during, and after physicalactivity. Tight calf and/or hamstring muscles (behind the thigh) limit range of motion and put extra strain on the plantar fascia. Keeping muscles flexible and relaxed and joints mobile can be accomplished by stretching as a warm up and a cool down. It is highly recommended that you stretch the plantar fasciitis before exercise.

If the problem persists, talk to a podiatrist or physiotherapist.