A herniated disc is when the soft interior portion of one of your vertebral discs in your spine protrudes out of the harder exterior. This protrusion can cause pain, numbness, and tingling if it extends out to an adjacent nerve or the spinal cord and thereby causes irritation.
All of these symptoms can even extend to your arms or legs, depending on the location of the herniated disc on the spine. A neck and back specialist can target the cause of the pain and correct the issue.
Treatments for a Herniated Disc
There are a number of ways to successfully address pain caused by a herniated disc, including the following:
Physical Therapy and Noninvasive Treatments
You have probably already been taking over-the-counter pain relievers as needed, but your neck and back specialist might give you a prescription for stronger medicine. The doctor may also recommend that you engage in physical therapy sessions. The therapist will show you how to safely perform certain exercises, and these stretches and exercises will encourage blood flow to the area to promote healing of your ruptured disc.
Cortisone Injections
Cortisone injections can help to control the pain caused by the herniated disc. These physician-administered injections consist of a cortisone steroid that’ll relieve the pain for weeks or months, and then you can return for another injection later as needed. This treatment helps to quell the irritated nerves in the spine.
Disc Replacement Surgery
If the damaged disc is not responding to nonsurgical treatments, your surgeon may recommend that you have a disc replacement. This involves your surgeon removing the injured disc and replacing it with a prosthetic disc.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion has become a much safer surgery than it was in the past, and it can be an excellent option for eliminating the pain caused by a herniated disc. During the operation, your doctor will remove the injured disc and possibly place other material in its place, and the adjacent vertebrae can then naturally fuse together. You may be asked to wear a back brace or a neck brace for a while as your spine heals in the beginning.
Neck and Back Specialist in Plantation, FL
If you have back pain or neck pain, it may indeed be due to a herniated disc. It is in your best interest to have an evaluation by an experienced orthopedist who knows how to efficiently determine the cause of your pain and to provide or recommend treatment that works for you. Baylis & Brown Orthopedics is conveniently located in Plantation, and we are here to serve patients who are suffering from ailments ranging from arthritis pain to a knee injury to hip pain.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (954) 476-8800. You may also use our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you find relief from your back pain so you can get back to enjoying life!
