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Do you have a herniated disc in Dallas? Are you wondering what treatment options there are available?
A herniated disc, also known as a “slipped disc,” is a common spinal condition that can cause pain and numbness in the back and legs. Often the result of age-related wear and tear (otherwise known as “disk degeneration”) on the spine, herniated discs frequently occur among older people and the elderly.
In this short post, learn more about what a herniated disc in Dallas is, what one feels like, and what options exist to treat it in Dallas.
A herniated disk refers to a problem where one of the rubbery cushions (“disks”) that sit between the bones that make up your spine, becomes loose and pokes out. More specifically, each disc consists of a soft center and a tough exterior. A herniated disc occurs when the soft portion slips out and protrudes through a crack in the exterior—which can affect the nerves surrounding it—causing discomfort or pain.
Depending on where it’s located and the severity of your condition, a herniated disc can cause radiating numbness or tingling in the surrounding areas, as well as “sharp, burning-like” pain in the arms, shoulders, or legs. It can also cause nearby muscles to weaken—often causing sufferers to find it difficult to perform everyday activities, or stumble, as a result.
Herniated Discs are somewhat preventable in the sense that you can proactively avoid common risk factors, such a sedentary lifestyle or poor posture. That said, you can try to prevent a herniated disc through a combination of exercise (which can strengthen the spinal muscles) and techniques to maintain good posture (which can reduce pressure on your spine). Maintaining a healthy weight can also lower your risk, as excess weight can put more pressure on your discs, making them more susceptible to herniation.
Many people who in fact have a herniated disc in Dallas don’t experience any symptoms at all. Those who do report feeling mild to severe pain from time to time, that often improves over time. Still, this rarely requires surgery and can be treated non-invasively with medication and/or therapy.
Your herniated disc doctor in Dallas may recommend non-prescription pain medications (if the pain is moderate) or neuropathic drugs, muscle relaxers, or opioids (if your pain is more severe). Cortisone injections may also be used if oral medications don’t improve your condition. Finally, physical therapy may be encouraged to help you learn positions and exercises that can help you minimize the pain caused by your herniated disc and prevent future hernias.
While few people need surgery for a herniated disc in Dallas, your pain doctor may recommend it if non-invasive treatments fail to improve your condition. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your Dallas pain doctor may recommend one of the following surgical treatment options for a herniated disc:
A Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy In Dallas: This minimally-invasive surgical procedure involves relieving the pressure placed on the nerve roots and/or the spinal cord caused by a herniated disc.
A Microdiscectomy in Dallas: This surgical procedure involves removing just the protruding portion of the herniated disc, which can relieve pressure on the spinal column and the nerves surrounding it.
An Open Discectomy In Dallas: In this surgical procedure, the entire herniated disc is removed from the spine, and the vertebra (bones that make up your spinal column) are fused with a bone graft, via a spinal fusion.
Contact your a local pain doctor in Dallas if you experience any of the following symptoms associated with a herniated disc:
Think you might have a herniated disc in Dallas? At the Comprehensive Spine Center of Dallas, we’ll conduct a thorough diagnosis to assess your symptoms, and recommend a treatment program specifically designed to treat them.
Schedule an appointment today to get started!
