Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is a condition that occurs or a problem that exists when the soft, rubbery cushion or center of a spinal disc pushes out or against its tough outer ring or exterior. This can be caused by normal, daily wear and tear or sudden injury. The resulting pressure of a herniated disc is one of the most common causes of lower back and leg (sciatica) pain, and it is estimated that between 60% and 80% of people will experience this discomfort at some point in their lives.
Although a herniated disk can sometimes be very painful, most people feel much better with just a few weeks or months of nonsurgical treatment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a herniated disc can include some or all of following:
- Lower back pain (usually initial symptom)
- Leg and/or foot pain (sciatica)
- Numbness or a tingling sensation in the leg or foot
- Weakness in the leg or foot
- Loss of bladder or bowel control (in rare cases)
Causes of Herniated Disc
Herniated discs often occur as a result of the natural aging of the spine, as the high water content in the discs of our youth begins to dry out. This causes the space between the vertebrae to shrink and become narrower.
Other factors that contribute to the likelihood of experiencing a herniated disk include:
• Gender (males between the ages of 30 and 50 are more at risk)
• Improper lifting
• Being overweight
• Repetitive, straining activities
• Frequent driving
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
Possible Pain Treatments
The first step in treating a herniated disc is to see a doctor to receive a proper diagnosis. Treatment may begin with a request for your comprehensive medical history, along with a complete physical exam and/or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Most physicians focus on conservative care such as rest, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy to strengthen your lower back and abdominal muscles, or an epidural steroid injection to reduce local inflammation. Spine surgery is only recommended in a small percentage of cases where non-surgical methods have been unsuccessful at alleviating the discomfort. Pegasus Pain Management offers a variety of herniated disc pain treatments to deal with the discomfort you are experiencing.
If you have pain from a herniated disc, please contact Pegasus Pain Management in the Dallas-Fort Worth area immediately, to see what kind of treatment plan is best for you. To contact Pegasus Pain Management, call (214) 702-5855.
ABOUT PEGASUS SPINE & JOINT INSTITUTE
Pegasus Spine & Joint Institute offers several locations in Dallas-Ft Worth for Orthopedics, Joint & Spine Care. Treating acute & chronic joint and spine pain; including back pain, neck pain, joint pain, and whiplash pain. Located in Dallas, Plano, Arlington, and Fort Worth, we specialize in the non-surgical treatment of back pain, joint pain, neck pain, acute and chronic pain.
Your Spine & Joint Doctors in Dallas Fort Worth Texas. Please contact our Spine & Joint Institute for more information on back pain in Dallas and non-surgical pain treatments in Dallas.
