Herniated Disc Column
Disc Replacement Surgery
Artificial Disc Replacement can be a scary topic for those considering the surgery. The goal of the procedure is to restore the intervertebral disc height while restoring physiologic motion one would have with a healthy disc…
Cervical Herniated Disc - Commonly Termed: Herniated Disc in Neck
One of the most common cervical spine disorders being treated by spine specialists is arm pain caused by a herniated cervical disc or a herniated disc in neck.
The Reason a Lumbar Herniated Disc Causes Pain
With age or sometimes serious injury, the discs in our back will begin to degenerate and as they do they can become prone to disc herniation.
Thoracic Herniated Disc
Like all other herniated disc problems, the cause of a thoracic herniated disc is similar. The soft inner material is pushed through the often degenerated capsule like outer material, placing pressure on a nearby exiting nerve root creating radiating symptoms of pain.
Symptoms of a Herniated disc
A physical examination preformed by your doctor along with a look at your pain history may be all that is required for diagnosis of your herniated disc. You may need to have your muscle reflexes, sensation, and muscle strength evaluated through a neurological examination…
Treatment For Herniated Disc
When treating a herniated disc surgery is usually left as a final option. A herniated disc will often heal with traditional aid in three to six months, but if at the six month mark there is no visual improvement in the patients condition, surgery is considered to avoid the possibility of permanent nerve damage.
Herniated Disc Surgery Procedures
Once conservative herniated disc treatment options have been exhausted, and the patient is still suffering from a lower quality of life caused by a herniated disc, surgery is often discussed. The recommended treatment is most often open back surgery. Open back surgery has three major downsides; high risks, required hospitalization, and a long recovery time.
Herniated Disc Causes
Wear and tear of the vertebral disc is usually the reason that a person develops a herniated disc. Wear and tear of the disc (degeneration) happens naturally as we age and lose the fluid that helps the disc maintain flexibility. A herniated disc can also be a result of a traumatic injury to the spine, which can cause tiny tears or cracks in the outer layer of the disc.
What is a Herniated Disc
The bones that form the major part of your spine are called vertebrae and are cushioned by small, spongy discs called vertebral discs. Taking a closer look at the vertebral disc we can see that it is quite an interesting and unique structure. The primary goal of the disc is to act as a shock absorber and provide cushioning between adjacent vertebrae. There are twenty three of these discs in total throughout the spinal column.