If you are receiving treatment for a disc extrusion, there are certain activities that can help your recovery. For example, learning targeted stretching techniques and doing low-impact exercises can help strengthen the muscles that surround the spine while also improving its flexibility. However, there are also activities that should be avoided during disc extrusion treatment to ensure you do not further damage your spine.

Activities that can be harmful to the spine

Some of the most common activities that are best avoided during disc extrusion treatment include:

1. Contact sports. While gentle exercises are often recommended as a conservative treatment, sports like football, rugby and gymnastics can cause a lot of compression in the spine and lead to further injury.
2. Activities that involve twisting motions. You’ll want to be careful about bending or twisting the spine repeatedly. In particular, golf and certain stretches in yoga can be more harmful than beneficial for your spine when you have a disc extrusion.
3. Smoking. Smoking is harmful to your health in many ways, including the fact that it accelerates the degeneration of the spinal discs, causing them to become weak and brittle. Therefore, quitting smoking is beneficial when receiving disc extrusion treatment.
4. Driving for extended periods of time. The seats in your car can put your spine in an awkward position, and staying in one position for extended lengths of time can detract from your spinal health. If you’re taking a long road trip, make sure to plan rest stops along the way so you can get up and move around.
5. Walking up and down stairs. The motion of stepping up or down a flight of stairs puts repeated stress on the spine with every step. This may worsen your existing back pain if you have a disc extrusion.
6. Lifting heavy objects. Lifting and carrying heavy objects, such as groceries, can put a lot of pressure on the spine. Instead, it’s best to lift only light loads and to ensure you’re using proper lifting techniques.
7. Sitting at a desk all day. Similar to driving, staying seated at your desk at work keeps you in the same position for extended periods of time. If you work in an office, make sure to practice good posture and to get up from time to time to move around.

Disc extrusion treatment at USA Spine Care

If conservative disc extrusion treatment options are insufficient at alleviating your pain, your physician may recommend surgery as the next step in your treatment plan. USA Spine Care specializes in minimally invasive spine surgeries, which are a safer and effective alternative to traditional open surgery.^ To find out if you’re a candidate for one of our outpatient procedures to treat a disc extrusion, contact USA Spine Care today.

Browse Related Resources