Herniated Disc Treatments - What to Know
If you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with a herniated disc, it’s likely you have a lot of questions. Most of the time many of those questions surround the topic of treatment options. This month our Mars Hill NC pain management team put together a short guide to address those questions. Join them as they share some basic information about herniated discs and modern treatment options.
What is a Herniated Disc?
In between the bones (vertebrae) of the spine are soft discs which act as shock absorbers to the spine’s movements. A herniated disc, also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the interior (nucleus) of a disc is pushed out of its natural placement through a crack in its exterior (annulus).
A herniated disc can irritate the surrounding nerves in your back and cause pain or weakness in your arms or legs. You typically don’t need surgery to correct a herniated disc. A herniated disc usually affects your lower back or lumbar spine. However, it can also affect your neck or cervical spine.
Causes & Symptoms
In many cases, a herniated disc is the result of natural wear and tear related to age and disc degeneration. As you age, your spinal discs lose some of their flexibility and become more susceptible to tearing, even due to a minor strain. Along with aging, additional risk factors include being overweight, occupational strain or even genetics.
Symptoms of a herniated disc will typically correspond to the area of the spine that the affected disc is in. The most common locations are in the neck and lower back. While it is possible for patients to experience no symptoms, our team also commonly sees one or more of the following:
Be sure to seek medical attention if your neck pain or back pain lasts more than a few days or if your pain travels down your arm or leg. Be aware of any tingling, numbness, or weakness. If you are looking to parner with a qualified chronic pain specialist, CPC’s orthopedic doctors in Mars Hill NC (locations also in several additional Asheville area locations) have all the very best diagnostic tools and treatment options available.
Non-Invasive Treatments
Prior to treatment, each patient can expect to go through a thorough assessment and diagnostic process. Following that, a treatment plan will be discussed. Your chronic pain specialist will prescribe the right course of treatment for you from a wide range of minimally invasive treatment plans and alternative therapies.
Your doctor may recommend spinal imaging to inspect your herniated disc. More severe cases could require an epidural steroid injection or spinal cord stimulation. There is no “one size fits all” treatment for any type of chronic pain so patients should expect to receive advice specific to their unique medical history, symptoms and condition(s).
Mars Hill NC Pain Management
Don’t wait for the pain to get worse before you see a pain specialist. The best results always come with early diagnosis and treatment. But no matter when you come in, Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas will offer you customized, caring attention for all your chronic pain needs. Get in touch today to learn more or to schedule your first appointment at any one of our Asheville area clinics.