What Happens with Herniated Disc?

What Happens with Herniated Disc?

Herniated disc is a common condition and can be treated with nonsurgical or surgical interventions from an established healthcare center.

Known as slipped or ruptured disc, herniated discs are common injuries after a car or fall-down accident. The human backbone or spine consists of bones called vertebrae. Rubbery, cushion-like pads referred to as "discs� lie between each individual vertebrae of human backbone. These discs help to keep the vertebrae in place and act as shock absorbers. A disk begins to herniate when its jellylike nucleus pushes against its outer ring due to wear and tear or a sudden injury. It is also a common source of back pain.

Discs are primarily composed of water. With age, discs dry out and become harder. Though genetics, smoking and a number of occupational and recreational activities may lead to early disc degeneration, a primary cause of a herniation is uneven compression and torsion that’s placed on the discs.

However, pain may not the major symptom for the disorder. Many people have this ruptured disc without pain. Pain could occur only if the bulging disc presses against a nerve. For instance, a herniated disc pressing on the sciatica nerve often leads to severe pain in the lower back. Other symptoms include weakness in one or both legs, loss of bladder or bowel control and paralysis from the waist down. If untreated, the condition can lead to permanent nerve damage.

Diagnosing Slipped Discs The physician will check your symptoms and medical history and conduct a physical examination to make sure whether you have a ruptured disc. Nerve function and muscle strength will be checked to find the right source of pain.

Imaging tests can help to identify a location of the herniated disc and affected nerve roots. With imaging tests, physician can view the bones and muscles of your spine and identify any damaged areas. Tests include X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and discograms (rarely utilized).

Your physician can combine all these pieces of information to determine what is causing your pain, weakness, and/or discomfort.

Treatment Reliable healthcare centers follow a multidisciplinary approach that includes pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and psychological approaches to help patients with pain management.

Non-surgical treatment is the first step to recovery and may include medication, physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and spinal decompression.

Medication Physicians may prescribe pain relievers such as Opioids Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) – aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, and celecoxib to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Muscle relaxants - methocarbamol, carisoprodol, and cyclobenzaprine to control muscle spasms.

Steroids – to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the nerves.

Analgesics – acetaminophen for pain relief

Physical therapy Physical therapy aims at helping you return to full activity as soon as possible and prevent reinjury. Physical therapists can instruct on proper posture, lifting and walking techniques, thus strengthening your lower back, leg and stomach muscles.

Chiropractic Care Chiropractic manipulation – Chiropractors can help alleviate the pain and symptoms associated with most mild spine conditions. Chiropractic adjustments involve applying a gentle force to correct misalignments and relieve pressure on the nerves and tissue structures. This will get the nervous system back in order and restore normal structure and function.

Spinal decompression – This is a chiropractic treatment that helps relieve the pressure on the spine by lengthening the spine and creating space between the discs and the vertebrae. This is particularly helpful for reducing pain associated with a ruptured disc in the spine.

Surgery Discectomy or a laminotomy surgery is recommended, if the symptoms do not significantly improve with conservative treatments. Surgery is also an option if you have signs of nerve damage, such as weakness or loss of feeling in legs. While the term laminotomy refers to "make an opening in the lamina", the term discectomy means "remove the disc."

To accelerate the healing process and to help patients return to normal activity as quickly as possible, established facilities use cold therapy units. The combination of cold therapy and active compression on the cervical spine or back can help you heal faster from back surgery or traumatic injury, and reduce the pain and swelling associated with degenerative spine disorders.

Game Ready is one such cold and compression therapy that helps to manage pain, heal fast, and recover better.

To schedule an appointment or consultation, contact us today at 718-769-2521 or forward an e-mail to info@hqbk.com. For emergency appointments, we can be reached at any hour via emergency pager.