Herniated Disc Treatment

The human spine and vertebrae suffer tremendous amounts of stress each and every day. Physical activities we take for granted, such as walking, bending, lifting and twisting, constantly stress the protective, gel-like disks sandwiched between vertebrae. If one of these discs slips out of position, the disc will bulge and press against spinal nerves, causing the pain and inflammation indicative of a herniated disc.

A herniated disc is an intervertebral disc that has pushed past its normal boundaries. Often, the outer ring has ruptured, allowing the inner core to extend out (herniate) beyond its borders. Because of this type of damage, a herniated disc is sometimes called a “slipped disc” or “ruptured disc.” Without disc herniation treatment, the condition can be very painful and cause neurological symptoms.

Symptoms and Causes of Herniated Disc Injuries

A herniated disc may be caused by trauma or injury. The symptoms of a herniated disc are different depending on whether it occurs in the neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine).

The symptoms of a herniated disc include:

• Leg numbness and pain that interferes with your ability to complete daily tasks
• Muscle weakness in the buttocks, lower back and lower legs
• Pain that radiates from your back into your legs and buttocks
• Urinary incontinence or loss of bowel functioning

Discectomy for Herniated Discs

A moderately or severely herniated disc that fails to respond to physical therapy or anti-inflammatory medications usually requires further herniated disc treatment to relieve chronic pain and stiffness. Your herniated disc doctor in New York City may recommend a spine surgery known as a discectomy to remove displaced or bulging disks that are putting too much pressure on spinal nerves.

A discectomy involves your doctor extracting damaged disc portions and reorganizing muscles surrounding the spine to replace lost disc tissue.

Neck

Disc herniation in the cervical spine often causes neck pain, more specifically a pain between the neck and the shoulder. If the herniated disc presses on the nerves that innervate the arm, the arm may tingle or partially lose sensation (become numb). In severe cases, people with cervical disc herniation may lose strength in in the hand and arm on the affected side.

Lower Back

Disc herniation in the lumbar spine may cause low back pain, but it may also cause pain in the buttocks, or in the front or back of the upper thigh. A herniated disc may cause pain to shoot down the leg, causing sciatica as well. Curiously, the shooting pain of a herniated disc may briefly get worse during coughing or a sneeze. If the herniated disc interferes with nerve function, it may cause numbness, tingling (pins and needles), or weakness in the leg or foot.

One or more of the following symptoms may indicate a severe herniated disc or a more serious problem:

• Extreme weakness in one or more limbs and/or the muscles in the limbs seem to be wasting away
• Losing bowel or bladder control, especially after a lower back injury

If any of these symptoms occur, seek immediate medical treatment from a herniated disc doctor in an emergency setting. New back pain or lower back pain that has gotten worse over a short period should be evaluated by a local herniated disc doctor in New York City, Staten Island, or Jersey City.

Nonsurgical Treatments for Herniated Discs

Fortunately, most herniated discs will heal with time and nonsurgical disc herniation treatment. Your herniated disc doctor may prescribe one or more of the following treatments:

• Selective rest: While it is not good to avoid all activity, it is helpful to rest the back in some cases.
• Physical therapy: A physical therapist can devise a targeted, customized exercise regimen.
• Pain relieving medications: These may be over-the-counter or prescribed.
• Muscle relaxants: Medications reduce cramping and muscle spasms.
• Cold compresses: Brief application of ice or cold compresses can help reduce inflammation.
• Heating pads: Modest heat applied to the affected area can relieve muscle pain

Your local herniated disc doctor in Staten Island, Jersey City, or NYC may carefully inject steroids into the affected area. These corticosteroid injections can reduce swelling and inflammation, which can reduce pain and neurological symptoms.

Surgical Treatments for Herniated Discs

The most common surgical disc herniation treatment is discectomy (or microdiscectomy). A discectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the herniated part of the intervertebral disc or the entire disc. Your herniated disc doctor can help you decide which of these disc herniation treatments is right for you.

The herniated disc doctor (orthopedic spine surgeon) may need to fuse two or more vertebral bones together, especially when the herniated disc is in the cervical spine. Disc fusion surgery is done by placing bone graft material into the intervertebral space and stabilizing with internal fixation. Another option is the herniated disc may be removed and replaced with an artificial disc. Artificial disc replacement may offer better range of motion and flexibility than disc fusion surgery.

If you think you may have a herniated disc and would like to discuss disc herniation treatment options, call iOrtho today to schedule an appointment at one of our locations in Jersey City, Brooklyn, Staten Island, or New York City.

Recovery after Herniated Disc Treatment

Most patients spend a few hours in recovery and go home the same day they have a discectomy. Recovery time depends on the type of discectomy you receive, the form of anesthesia used, your age, health and various other factors. Your herniated disc doctor in Jersey City will encourage you to avoid sitting too long and to walk as much as possible.