What is a disc herniation?
Each vertebra in your spine is separated by a disc that’s designed to cushion the bones, absorb shock, and help stabilize your spine. These discs consist of two parts: a strong outer covering that encloses a gel-like center.
As you get older, the discs naturally dehydrate and weaken from everyday use. When an area in the outer cover gets too weak or becomes damaged from an injury, pressure from the spine forces the gel-like center through the weak spot.
Sometimes, the gel bulges out, protruding between the bones or into the spinal canal where it compresses nerves. The cover may also rupture and let the inner material leak out, which irritates and inflames the nerves.
What symptoms develop due to a disc herniation?
Herniated discs most often occur in your lower back (lumbar spine), but they can also develop in your neck (cervical spine). When the disc herniation affects your nerves, you’ll develop symptoms such as:
- Chronic back or neck pain
- Cramping or muscle spasms
- Sudden electric-shock pain down your legs or arms
- Numbness or tingling in your legs or arms
- Muscle weakness in your legs or arms
You may also develop spinal instability if the disc loses enough inner gel to flatten and stop functioning.
How do doctors treat disc herniation?
Conservative treatment may include medication, physical therapy, structured home exercises, and epidural steroid injections. About 80% of patients improve in six weeks. If your symptoms don’t improve with conservative therapy, you may need to consider surgery.
How do you treat disc herniation with surgery?
Dr. Verma treats disc herniation with procedures such as:
Discectomy
When performing a discectomy, Dr. Verma uses minimally invasive surgery that avoids cutting your muscles, causes less postoperative pain, and speeds up your recovery. Using a specialized tool inserted through a small incision, he removes the herniated portion of the disc.
Disc replacement
Dr. Verma removes the entire disc if it has suffered too much damage or collapsed. Then he replaces it with an artificial disc that moves like a real disc and maintains normal mobility.
Before disc replacements were available, the two vertebrae were fused after a disc was removed. While a bone fusion stabilizes the spine, it also restricts movement.
If you have chronic back or neck pain, call Verma Spine or schedule an appointment online today.
