Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc: Questions and Answers
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What is a herniated disc? 
A chain of bones called vertebrae form the human spine. Between the vertebrae are soft, spinal discs that have a hard outer coating and a gel-like substance inside. These discs absorb shocks to the body during activities like jumping and running, and allow the spine to move in different directions.

A herniated disc is a spinal disc that has slipped or bulged out between the vertebrae. A herniated disc puts pressure on nearby spinal nerves, causing pain and other symptoms. 

Risk factors for herniated discs include:

• Genetics: some people are born predisposed to develop a herniated disc
• Obesity: excess weight puts added pressure and stress on spinal discs
• Occupation: physically demanding jobs increase the likelihood of a herniated disc

What are herniated disc symptoms?
Some patients with herniated discs experience no symptoms at all, but for most people, a slipped or herniated disc causes some or all of the following:

• Impaired bowel or bladder function
• Muscle weakness
• Numbness in the arms or legs
• Restricted movement
• Sudden, shooting pain
• Tingling in the affected areas

At Modern Concepts, we discuss your health history, symptoms, and diagnostic test results before determining if you have a herniated disc. A physical exam tells him where the pain is and what types of movement aggravate it. We assess your reflexes, muscle strength, and touch sensitivity.

What is the treatment for herniated discs treated?
At Modern Concepts, our goal for patients with herniated discs is to avoid surgery whenever possible. In most cases, we can successfully treat your pain and other symptoms with a holistic approach that includes:

• Therapy
• Injections and other proven interventions
• Resolving environmental and emotional stressors

Typically, surgery is only necessary when additional conditions are present or noninvasive treatments are not effective at managing your pain. 

As with all medical conditions, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to pain management. Modern Concepts believes in treating the whole person, not just the physical source of their pain, for enduring relief and improved function and mobility.
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Call Modern Concepts to book your pain management consultation today.