What are the Treatments Available for Herniated Spinal Disc

Herniated disc injuries occur when a bulge appears in the vertebral disc. This bulge pushes through a space in the spinal column and leads to numbness and tingling of the impacted region.

There are various treatments for a herniated spinal disc, which we will discuss further.

Anatomy of the spinal disc:

The spinal disc is found in the spine in between the vertebrae. They are made of a soft, round bundle of elastic tissue which can become harder as we get older. As this happens, they become more prone to injury, causing a protrusion of the disc or a possible herniation. When a herniation occurs it can pinch nerves and cause great pain.

What causes it?

A herniated spinal disc can have a rapid onset due to sudden trauma. In fact, you can just wake up with it. Herniation can also happen gradually, due to what is known as repetitive stress syndrome. Repetitive stress can occur as a result of repeating the same movements that exert pressure on the spine, such as moving furniture for a living.

What are the symptoms?

Herniated disc symptoms can include:

Shooting pain, numbness and tingling in the back and extremities, loss of muscle strength and difficulties with control of bowel and bladder.

The cause of these symptoms is the pressing of the disc on the nerve which cause swelling and irritation. When a nerve is being compressed, it cannot send the electrical signals to the brain which is what causes the numbness and tingling.

If the injury occurs high up on the cervical neck area, there can be some difficulties breathing and medical assistance should be sought out immediately.

A physical exam is usually required for the diagnosis of a herniated disc. This exam will look at such things as reflexes, sensation, muscle strength and tests such as an MRO, X-ray ot CT scan.

Once a herniated disc has been diagnosed, you will be prescribed with a treatment options designed to reduce your pain and fix the positioning of the disc.

Treatment options may include:

Non Steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, pain relievers and hot and cold packs.

Surgery may be considered if no relief comes from these methods. This surgery will involve removing either part or all of the disc and is called a discectomy.

If you feel your symptoms are consistent with those of a herniated disc, get in touch with your doctor for an official diagnosis.

About The Author Jared Wright runs the marketing for Clivir.com, a community site offering you free learning resources. Visit the links below to learn more about other back pain related issues such as lower back pain remedies and lower back pain exercises.