How Do You Fix A Herniated Disc?

Your spine is a skeletal structure that offers support for the body and protects the spinal cord. The spine allows your body to stay upright and helps to shield the nerves that deliver signals throughout your body from damage. Aside from just bones, the spine also contains small discs that act as cushions. These discs help the bones absorb shocks from everyday movements such as lifting, twisting, and walking. Due to the pressure placed on them, they may begin to bulge out from the spine, resulting in a herniated disc. Here at New York Orthpaedic Spinal Associates, our back surgeon in New York can help treat a herniated disc as well as answer any back-related questions you may have.

Symptoms 

Any injury that causes mass amounts of back pain and discomfort should be looked at by a professional immediately. Your back is one of the most important parts of the body relied on for support, and when it cannot function properly, everyday tasks can become difficult. Herniated discs are a problem not only because they result in back pain, but they can lead to the following symptoms:

• Pain that radiates to your arms and legs.
• Unexplained muscle weakness.
• Numbness or tingling throughout the body.
• Pain that affects your ability to sit or stand.
• Tingling, aching, or burning sensations in the affected areas.

Risk Factors 

Our back surgeon in New York wants to ensure that all of our patients can avoid the devasting effects of a herniated disc. Our team knows that the best form of treatment is always avoiding the injury altogether, which is why we’d like to share some of the risk factors that can lead to this injury. By referencing the below, you can help yourself prevent herniated discs from occurring:

• Being overweight will cause excess pressure on your joints.
• Jobs that require large amounts of pushing, pulling and lifting.
• Smoking lessens the oxygen flow to your disks, making herniation more likely.
• You may have a genetic disposition to this condition.  

Treatment With Our Back Surgeon In New York

When dealing with a herniated disc, you must remember that you never have to go through this alone. Our back surgeons in New York are board-certified and will be able to determine the best form of treatment that will yield the optimal results. In some cases, surgeries can be avoided with a mix of muscle relaxers and over-the-counter medications. However, when these methods have failed to stop the symptoms listed below after six weeks, surgery will most likely be required:

• Difficulty walking.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control.
• Poorly controlled pain.
• Numbness or weakness.

When undergoing surgery, only the protruding part of the disc will need to be removed to alleviate the symptoms. However, in extreme cases, the entirety of the disc will need to be removed. To help compensate for the complete removal of the disc, the two affected vertebrae will be fused. This will allow for proper support after the cushion has been removed.    

New York Orthopaedic Spinal Associates

At New York Orthopaedic Spinal Associates, we understand how difficult managing a herniated disc can be. While this condition can greatly decrease your quality of life, your discomfort does not need to last. Our back surgeons in New York will be able to treat your herniated disc and get you back to living a pain-free life. If you’re suffering from this injury and are looking for treatment, be sure to contact us today!