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A herniated spinal disc can cause considerable pain for those afflicted with it. Damage to the outer part of the disc, results in the inner material pushing out and exerting pressure on surrounding nerves, leading to painful symptoms. If suffering from spinal disc herniation Ashburn VA patients should know which treatment options are available to them.
Most physicians will already strongly suspect a herniation and have an idea of where it is located based on the symptoms the patient describes. A proper diagnosis includes doing a physical examination, obtaining a full medical background of the patient, and requesting diagnostic imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI to confirm their preliminary findings.
Similar in some respect to degenerative disc disease, herniation actually stems from a different source and results in another classification of pain. The former occurs within the disc space and leads to axial pain. The latter happens due to aging or an injury, and is responsible for radicular, or nerve root pain. Most often seen in the lower spine, it can also produce sciatica, a painful sensation extending from the buttocks to the legs.
Herniations in the lower or lumbar region of the spine are the most frequently occurring type and are often responsible for the painful condition called "sciatica". Pinched nerves in the spine cause pain which runs across the buttocks and into one or both legs. There may also be a numb or tingling sensation in the feet and legs, and the reflexes of the ankles may be impaired.
When six weeks have passed, and the patient shows no signs of natural recovery from a lumbar herniation, the doctor will normally start a treatment regimen of non-surgical therapies. One or a combination of chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, hot and cold applications, epidural cortisone injections, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and oral steroids may be employed. In cases where relief is minimal or none, surgical intervention in the forma of a microdiscectomy or lumbar fusion surgery may be required.
Somewhat less common, cervical herniations are found in the neck, and are usually seen in young or middle-aged adults. Depending on the site of the nerve impingement, pain may be felt anywhere from the shoulder to the fingertips and in between. The arms are affected most often in the form of tingling and numbness along with discomfort. Some people may also find it hard to grip with their hands.
Pain caused by cervical disc herniation will first be addressed by non-surgical means and in many cases it responds positively, but the numbness may persist a bit longer. Patients may undergo chiropractic adjustment, traction, physical therapy, activity modification, or bracing, and be prescribed narcotic pain killers or muscle relaxants. If these measure do not resolve the pain, it will be necessary to surgically repair the disc.
While a herniation of the thoracic spine is the least common form of this condition, it can still happen. This variation of herniated disc is often unsymptomatic, and patients may be unaware of its existence in some cases. If pain is apparent, the physician will recommend such treatments as ice packs, strengthening exercises, chiropractic adjustment, analgesics, and anti-inflammatory injections. More often than not, non-surgical therapy will work, but when it doesn't, decompression surgery may be called for.
Most physicians will already strongly suspect a herniation and have an idea of where it is located based on the symptoms the patient describes. A proper diagnosis includes doing a physical examination, obtaining a full medical background of the patient, and requesting diagnostic imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI to confirm their preliminary findings.
Similar in some respect to degenerative disc disease, herniation actually stems from a different source and results in another classification of pain. The former occurs within the disc space and leads to axial pain. The latter happens due to aging or an injury, and is responsible for radicular, or nerve root pain. Most often seen in the lower spine, it can also produce sciatica, a painful sensation extending from the buttocks to the legs.
Herniations in the lower or lumbar region of the spine are the most frequently occurring type and are often responsible for the painful condition called "sciatica". Pinched nerves in the spine cause pain which runs across the buttocks and into one or both legs. There may also be a numb or tingling sensation in the feet and legs, and the reflexes of the ankles may be impaired.
When six weeks have passed, and the patient shows no signs of natural recovery from a lumbar herniation, the doctor will normally start a treatment regimen of non-surgical therapies. One or a combination of chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, hot and cold applications, epidural cortisone injections, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and oral steroids may be employed. In cases where relief is minimal or none, surgical intervention in the forma of a microdiscectomy or lumbar fusion surgery may be required.
Somewhat less common, cervical herniations are found in the neck, and are usually seen in young or middle-aged adults. Depending on the site of the nerve impingement, pain may be felt anywhere from the shoulder to the fingertips and in between. The arms are affected most often in the form of tingling and numbness along with discomfort. Some people may also find it hard to grip with their hands.
Pain caused by cervical disc herniation will first be addressed by non-surgical means and in many cases it responds positively, but the numbness may persist a bit longer. Patients may undergo chiropractic adjustment, traction, physical therapy, activity modification, or bracing, and be prescribed narcotic pain killers or muscle relaxants. If these measure do not resolve the pain, it will be necessary to surgically repair the disc.
While a herniation of the thoracic spine is the least common form of this condition, it can still happen. This variation of herniated disc is often unsymptomatic, and patients may be unaware of its existence in some cases. If pain is apparent, the physician will recommend such treatments as ice packs, strengthening exercises, chiropractic adjustment, analgesics, and anti-inflammatory injections. More often than not, non-surgical therapy will work, but when it doesn't, decompression surgery may be called for.
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