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.
Most lumbar, or lower back herniations lead to pain felt in one or both legs, as it travels along the large sciatic nerve. It is actually more common for a patient to feel leg pain than discomfort in the lower back. Muscle weakness, impaired ankle reflexes, and tingling or numbness felt in the legs or feet are also associated with this type of disorder.
When a patient suffering from a lumbar herniation does not improve after six weeks, the physician will most likely implement one or a combination of non-surgical approaches. These treatments can include hot and cold therapy, chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, oral steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and epidural cortisone injections. Should these methods fail to provide relief, surgical procedures such as a microdiscectomy or lumbar fusion surgery may be indicated.
Cervical, or spinal herniations which occur in the neck, are most common in young to middle-aged adults. This type is associated with pain felt primarily in the shoulders, arms, or hands. The location of the affected nerve determines the extent of the numbness, tingling, and pain experienced by the patient. One's ability to grip the hands may also be hindered.
Pain due to cervical herniations will often respond well to non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, activity modification, chiropractic adjustment, traction, and bracing. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotic painkillers, both injectable and oral, and muscle relaxants can also be effective. When these measure fail to work, a simple surgical repair will normally lead to a complete recovery.
Thoracic, or herniations of the spine found in the chest region, are much less common than the other two types. In many instances, they will not even produce any symptoms. However, if a person does suffer pain in the upper back caused by a thoracic herniation, a non-surgical approach which involves the use of analgesic medications, anti-inflammatory injections, application of ice packs, chiropractic adjustments, and strengthening exercises, will usually result in healing. Decompression surgery is indicated only in cases of extreme pain or spinal cord dysfunction.
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.
Most lumbar, or lower back herniations lead to pain felt in one or both legs, as it travels along the large sciatic nerve. It is actually more common for a patient to feel leg pain than discomfort in the lower back. Muscle weakness, impaired ankle reflexes, and tingling or numbness felt in the legs or feet are also associated with this type of disorder.
When a patient suffering from a lumbar herniation does not improve after six weeks, the physician will most likely implement one or a combination of non-surgical approaches. These treatments can include hot and cold therapy, chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, oral steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and epidural cortisone injections. Should these methods fail to provide relief, surgical procedures such as a microdiscectomy or lumbar fusion surgery may be indicated.
Cervical, or spinal herniations which occur in the neck, are most common in young to middle-aged adults. This type is associated with pain felt primarily in the shoulders, arms, or hands. The location of the affected nerve determines the extent of the numbness, tingling, and pain experienced by the patient. One's ability to grip the hands may also be hindered.
Pain due to cervical herniations will often respond well to non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, activity modification, chiropractic adjustment, traction, and bracing. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotic painkillers, both injectable and oral, and muscle relaxants can also be effective. When these measure fail to work, a simple surgical repair will normally lead to a complete recovery.
Thoracic, or herniations of the spine found in the chest region, are much less common than the other two types. In many instances, they will not even produce any symptoms. However, if a person does suffer pain in the upper back caused by a thoracic herniation, a non-surgical approach which involves the use of analgesic medications, anti-inflammatory injections, application of ice packs, chiropractic adjustments, and strengthening exercises, will usually result in healing. Decompression surgery is indicated only in cases of extreme pain or spinal cord dysfunction.
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