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Disc Prolapse Symptoms and Treatments
The symptoms of a disc prolapse are primarily the result of nerve compression, making them very similar to those of a lot of other back and neck problems. The numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and pain you feel occur because your prolapsed disc is squeezing into the spinal canal and pressing on nerves. The same thing happens when a disc is herniated or bulging, and nerves are pinched in a similar fashion by bone spurs, stenosis and other conditions. To ensure that your symptoms are treated correctly, your doctor will need to ensure that they are indeed caused by a prolapsed disc.
Doctors generally diagnose a disc prolapse by asking about symptoms and performing a physical exam. If they are still unsure, suspect that there may be other causes for your symptoms, or that other health problems may exist, an MRI, CT scan or other medical imaging test may be ordered. These tests can allow them to actually see the disc prolapse.
If you are diagnosed with a prolapsed disc your doctor will recommend conservative treatments like physical therapy, over-the-counter pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs, and chiropractic care. If those aren’t successful in relieving your symptoms, your doctor may suggest prescription medications or spinal steroid injections. For the small minority of patients that will still experience pain after those measures, surgery is a possibility. At Laser Spine Institute, we relieve disc prolapse symptoms with innovative endoscopic techniques that are not only effective, but also gentle on the rest of the body. The result for the vast majority of our patients is relief from their prolapsed disc and a quick return to their normal lives.
To learn more about our minimally invasive spine surgery and for a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact