The human spinal cord is protected by bony vertebrae which are separated from each other by gelatinous discs. When one of these discs becomes injured, the inner part of it may protrude into surrounding nerves, which can cause a great deal of pain. When afflicted with spinal disc herniation Ashburn VA patients need to find out what pain management and treatment options they have.
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.
Although herniation can resemble degenerative disc disease, it does differ in both its source and the type of pain it produces. The latter involves the disc space, resulting in axial pain, while the former is characterized by nerve root, or radicular pain which results from an injury or aging. If the herniation is in the lower or lumbar spine, it can cause sciatica, or pain felt through the buttocks and legs.
Herniations in the lower or lumbar region of the spine are the most frequently occurring type and are often responsible for the painful condition called "sciatica". Pinched nerves in the spine cause pain which runs across the buttocks and into one or both legs. There may also be a numb or tingling sensation in the feet and legs, and the reflexes of the ankles may be impaired.
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.
Most often seen in people in their thirties to fifties, herniation of the cervical spine, or neck is somewhat less common than that in the lumbar spine. Impingement of nerves in the neck, caused pain to be referred to the shoulders and arms, and sometimes all the way down to the fingertips. Hand-grasp is weakened in some cases and there may be tingling and numbness as well.
Pain caused by cervical disc herniation will first be addressed by non-surgical means and in many cases it responds positively, but the numbness may persist a bit longer. Patients may undergo chiropractic adjustment, traction, physical therapy, activity modification, or bracing, and be prescribed narcotic pain killers or muscle relaxants. If these measure do not resolve the pain, it will be necessary to surgically repair the disc.
Thoracic, or herniations of the spine found in the chest region, are much less common than the other two types. In many instances, they will not even produce any symptoms. However, if a person does suffer pain in the upper back caused by a thoracic herniation, a non-surgical approach which involves the use of analgesic medications, anti-inflammatory injections, application of ice packs, chiropractic adjustments, and strengthening exercises, will usually result in healing. Decompression surgery is indicated only in cases of extreme pain or spinal cord dysfunction.
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.
Although herniation can resemble degenerative disc disease, it does differ in both its source and the type of pain it produces. The latter involves the disc space, resulting in axial pain, while the former is characterized by nerve root, or radicular pain which results from an injury or aging. If the herniation is in the lower or lumbar spine, it can cause sciatica, or pain felt through the buttocks and legs.
Herniations in the lower or lumbar region of the spine are the most frequently occurring type and are often responsible for the painful condition called "sciatica". Pinched nerves in the spine cause pain which runs across the buttocks and into one or both legs. There may also be a numb or tingling sensation in the feet and legs, and the reflexes of the ankles may be impaired.
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.
Most often seen in people in their thirties to fifties, herniation of the cervical spine, or neck is somewhat less common than that in the lumbar spine. Impingement of nerves in the neck, caused pain to be referred to the shoulders and arms, and sometimes all the way down to the fingertips. Hand-grasp is weakened in some cases and there may be tingling and numbness as well.
Pain caused by cervical disc herniation will first be addressed by non-surgical means and in many cases it responds positively, but the numbness may persist a bit longer. Patients may undergo chiropractic adjustment, traction, physical therapy, activity modification, or bracing, and be prescribed narcotic pain killers or muscle relaxants. If these measure do not resolve the pain, it will be necessary to surgically repair the disc.
Thoracic, or herniations of the spine found in the chest region, are much less common than the other two types. In many instances, they will not even produce any symptoms. However, if a person does suffer pain in the upper back caused by a thoracic herniation, a non-surgical approach which involves the use of analgesic medications, anti-inflammatory injections, application of ice packs, chiropractic adjustments, and strengthening exercises, will usually result in healing. Decompression surgery is indicated only in cases of extreme pain or spinal cord dysfunction.
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