A herniated disc can cause pain that is both excruciating and frustrating. Also referred to as a slipped disc, Atlanta herniated disc can occur when the gel-like interior of the spine pushes out toward the outer ring of the spinal cord. While the pain can be unbearable, there are treatments available. Your Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center specialists can offer you personalized treatments that will help you recover.
Causes of a herniated disc
While age is the major causative factor of a herniated disc, other causes include:
- Improper lifting
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal injury
- Repetitive strenuous activity
The symptoms of a herniated disc
If you have a slipped disc, you will exhibit the following symptoms:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Radiating pain
- Hip pain
- Shoulder pain
- Muscle spasm
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling or numbness
Treatment options for a herniated disc
The number one purpose of herniated disc treatment is to relieve pressure on the spine. Helping it to relax and not feel tight. The following are the most common ways to treat slipped discs.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy will help you correct your posture, reduce pain, stretch and strengthen your body. By reducing the tension on your spine, the body can relax; therefore, you will not feel the tightness on your spine.
Aquatic Therapy
As the name suggests, this is therapy carried using water. The exercises that you will indulge in will help you increase your strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Furthermore, hydrotherapy supports a patient underwater, meaning they will not get tired easily.
Traction
Traction is a form of therapy that deals with sciatica pain, degenerative disc disease and slipped disease. It can be administered manually or mechanically. In manual administration, a physical therapist will use their hands on your joints and muscles to relieve pressure. In mechanical administration, therapists use ropes and pulleys to relieve pressure on your spine. Traction is not recommended for cancer patients or people with osteoporosis.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Another effective treatment is an epidural steroid injection which can act as a permanent reliever of back pain. Although the treatment can be administered between three to six months, patients can experience relief after 24 hours.
Facet Joint Injections
Facet joint injections involve injecting the facet joint with a small amount of anesthetic agent to numb and block the pain. It is a fast outpatient procedure and patients can go home in a few hours. Although the procedure is quick, doctors advise patients to avoid strenuous activities for the first few days.
If none of the above treatments work, you can discuss surgery options with your doctor. Some minimally invasive surgeries will curb the pain that comes with a slipped disc.
When should you call a doctor?
Pain can affect the quality of your life and the sooner you talk to a doctor, the better are chances of correcting the herniated disc. Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center has an experienced team that will help with the different treatment options. The team will discuss with you the best option for you.
As an individual, you will get a personalized treatment option that caters to your needs. If you settle for surgery, you will be out of the recovery room quickly with less compared to open surgery. Visit Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center to correct your herniated disc.
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