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.
In order to diagnose a patient with this condition, the physician will take a detailed medical history, conduct a physical examination, and most likely order diagnostic tests such as an MRI or a CT scan. The doctor will usually have a pretty good idea of where the herniated disc is located based on the nature of the patient's reported symptoms, and the imaging tests will usually confirm these suspicions.
While herniation bears some similarities to degenerative disc disease, the actual source and nature of the pain is different. The former occurs as the result of nerve root compression when the disc's integrity is affected by injury or aging and is known as radicular pain. Whereas the latter produces axial pain which occurs in the disc space.
Lumbar herniations usually cause some degree of sciatic pain, with more discomfort being experienced in one or both legs than in the lower back in most cases. This is the most common type of herniation. Besides leg pain there may also be weakness, numbness, or tingling in the legs and feet, and impairment of the ankle reflexes.
If there is no substantial improvement in the lumbar herniation patient six weeks after the problem was identified, the doctor will devise a treatment plan for him or her which consists of one or several non-surgical modalities. Common treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, epidural cortisone injections, oral steroids, hot and cold applications, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. Microdiscectomy or lumbar fusion surgery may be carried out if these initial measures fail.
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.
Non-surgical options for cervical herniations include administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, which may be sufficient for some people, if not then other therapies may be explored such as traction, physical therapy, bracing, activity modification, and chiropractic care. Muscle relaxants, as well as oral or injectable pain killers may be helpful too. If none of these measures are effective, surgical repair is typically recommended.
The least common site of herniation is the thoracic region, adjacent to the ribcage. Often asymptomatic, sometimes it only shows up in a diagnostic imaging test which is done for another reason. In cases which do present with pain, patients may be given anti-inflammatory injections and analgesics and referred for strengthening exercises, chiropractic manipulation, or cold therapy. Rarely, decompression surgery must be done, but this is only where severe pain is present and the spinal cord's function is affected.
In order to diagnose a patient with this condition, the physician will take a detailed medical history, conduct a physical examination, and most likely order diagnostic tests such as an MRI or a CT scan. The doctor will usually have a pretty good idea of where the herniated disc is located based on the nature of the patient's reported symptoms, and the imaging tests will usually confirm these suspicions.
While herniation bears some similarities to degenerative disc disease, the actual source and nature of the pain is different. The former occurs as the result of nerve root compression when the disc's integrity is affected by injury or aging and is known as radicular pain. Whereas the latter produces axial pain which occurs in the disc space.
Lumbar herniations usually cause some degree of sciatic pain, with more discomfort being experienced in one or both legs than in the lower back in most cases. This is the most common type of herniation. Besides leg pain there may also be weakness, numbness, or tingling in the legs and feet, and impairment of the ankle reflexes.
If there is no substantial improvement in the lumbar herniation patient six weeks after the problem was identified, the doctor will devise a treatment plan for him or her which consists of one or several non-surgical modalities. Common treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, epidural cortisone injections, oral steroids, hot and cold applications, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. Microdiscectomy or lumbar fusion surgery may be carried out if these initial measures fail.
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.
Non-surgical options for cervical herniations include administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, which may be sufficient for some people, if not then other therapies may be explored such as traction, physical therapy, bracing, activity modification, and chiropractic care. Muscle relaxants, as well as oral or injectable pain killers may be helpful too. If none of these measures are effective, surgical repair is typically recommended.
The least common site of herniation is the thoracic region, adjacent to the ribcage. Often asymptomatic, sometimes it only shows up in a diagnostic imaging test which is done for another reason. In cases which do present with pain, patients may be given anti-inflammatory injections and analgesics and referred for strengthening exercises, chiropractic manipulation, or cold therapy. Rarely, decompression surgery must be done, but this is only where severe pain is present and the spinal cord's function is affected.
About the Author:
For treatments on your spinal disc herniation Ashburn VA spine clinic is the right place to be. Schedule for an examination as soon as possible through this link http://ashburnspinecare.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment