Symptoms of a Herniated Disc
Symptoms of a herniated disc will vary depending on where the herniation occurs. Disc herniation can occur in the neck (cervical spine), upper back (thoracic spine), or lower back (lumbar spine).
Herniated discs generally cause:
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Pain in the arm, shoulder, or one or both legs
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Numbness or tingling in arms or legs
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Weakness in arms or legs
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Sharp pain aggravated by sitting (lumbar) or moving a certain way
If the herniation occurs in the neck, symptoms may be experienced in the shoulders or arms.
If it occurs in the upper back, you may feel pain around the rib cage, chest, or in the upper abdomen.
Lumbar disc herniations often cause intense pain in the buttocks, thigh, and calf, sometimes reaching all the way down to the ankle or foot.
Some people with herniated discs don’t have any symptoms at all. In very severe cases, nerve compression caused by a herniated disc in the lumbar spine can lead to loss of bowel or bladder function.
Most herniated discs are due to normal, age-related deterioration of the spine, but sometimes something happens that causes a disc to herniate. Trauma to the spine, heavy lifting (with improper lifting techniques), or sudden twisting movements (such as when golfing) can cause a disc to spontaneously herniate.
Who Gets Herniated Discs?
Most herniated discs happen as the result of normal, age-related deterioration of the spine (degenerative disc disease). Sometimes other factors occur that cause a disc to herniate.
Trauma to the spine, heavy lifting (with improper lifting techniques), or sudden twisting movements (such as when golfing) can cause a disc to spontaneously herniate.
A herniated disc can occur in a person of any age, and regardless of their overall health (in fact, athletes frequently require lumbar herniated disc treatment).
Several factors can contribute to the development of a herniated disc. These include:
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Age: As we get older, the discs in our spine gradually lose their water content and become less flexible, making them more prone to injury.
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Occupation: Jobs that involve repetitive lifting, bending, or twisting motions, as well as those that require prolonged sitting, can increase the risk of developing a herniated disc.
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Weight: Excess body weight puts added stress on the spine, increasing the likelihood of disc problems.
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Genetics: Some people may have a genetic predisposition to developing herniated discs.
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Poor posture: Slouching, improper lifting techniques, and maintaining poor posture over time can contribute to disc herniation.
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Trauma: Accidents or injuries that put excessive pressure or strain on the spine can lead to disc herniation.
While these factors can increase the risk of getting a herniated disc, anyone can develop oOne. Herniated discs are relatively common and can occur even in individuals who do not possess these risk factors.
If you suspect you have a herniated disc, discuss it with a dedicated orthopaedic spine specialist.
Treatment for Herniated Discs
Some herniated discs can be treated conservatively. Dr. Baig recommends starting with these methods if possible:
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Rest: Taking a break from activities that worsen the symptoms can help relieve pain and allow the disc to heal.
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Pain Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, muscle relaxants or oral steroids may be used.
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Physical Therapy: Specific exercises and stretches can help strengthen the back and abdominal muscles, improve flexibility, and alleviate pressure on the disc.
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Heat and Cold Therapy: Applying heat or cold packs to the affected area may help reduce pain and inflammation.
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Epidural Steroid Injections: Injections of corticosteroids near the affected nerve can provide temporary relief by reducing inflammation.
Typically, the pain will go away first, with numbness, tingling, and weakness taking slightly longer to resolve.
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When to Consider Surgery for Herniated Discs
If conservative treatment doesn’t help, your herniated discs may need to be surgically corrected.
It’s important to note that surgery is typically considered when conservative treatments fail to provide relief or if there is significant nerve compression resulting in severe pain, muscle weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Dr. Baig utilizes a range of surgical treatments for herniated lumbar discs, including
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Minimally-invasive endoscopic spine surgery for those who are candidates
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Discectomy
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Microdiscectomy
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Minimally-invasive open discectomy
Dr. Baig custom-tailors his herniated disc treatment services in Phoenix to the patient’s specific needs, devising an individualized plan with each unique consultation.
What Happens if You Don’t Treat a Herniated Disc?
A herniated disc can be a painful and frightening thing. But if you don’t seek treatment for a herniated disc in the lower back, it won’t just go away on its own. The same is true for treatment of thoracic disc herniation.
Here are some things to be on the lookout for if you have a herniated disc and you avoid getting it treated for too long.
More Pain
If you have a herniated disc and you’re looking for pain relief in Phoenix, you’ll have to see a professional. If not, that pain will get worse, even if it doesn’t hurt that much today. That’s because herniated discs often have a slow onset of pain that can lead some to believe that it won’t get much worse over time or that it might go away in a few days. It won’t.
Pain Migration
In addition to a slow increase in pain, neglecting herniated disc treatment actually gives you fewer options, not more. A herniated disc can be the result of bone-on-bone grinding, but it can also lead to pinched nerves, as well as tingling or numbness in the extremities. Furthermore, it can cause weakness and muscle aches, in addition to weird sensations in the lower body, legs, and feet.
Tissue or Nerve Damage
The biggest worry is that by leaving that herniated disc untreated, you could be raising the risk of soft tissue or nerve damage, which is the result of some kind of rupture or damage in the nearby tissues or nerves around your herniated disc.
Get Herniated Disc Treatment in Phoenix Today!
Whether you’re looking for treatment of thoracic disc herniation, lumbar disc herniation, or even cervical disc herniation, Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center can help. We provide a number of cutting-edge surgical treatment options from ultra-minimally-invasive endoscopic discectomy to traditional spinal fusion.
Get in touch with us now to schedule a medical evaluation with Dr. Baig and get back to a life free of herniated disc pain.
Get maximum relief with minimal risk
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WE DIAGNOSE THE ROOT
Chronic back pain can be debilitating and leave you feeling hopeless. When Craig wasn’t getting the care he felt he deserved, he reached out to Dr. Baig to get the help he needed.
Unfortunately, this is a common problem: People suffering from back pain see a doctor, get diagnosed with some type of “chronic” condition, obtain a prescription and perhaps go to a few physical therapy appointments. They feel a bit better for a time, but the root of the problem is never diagnosed or properly treated. This is how back pain can become chronic, and this is why people ultimately seek the help of Desert Spine and Scoliosis center, expert back surgeons in Phoenix.
Dr. Baig, one of the most respected back surgeons in Phoenix, helped Craig identify his problem by relying on his years of expertise as a spine specialist in Phoenix. With the proper treatment, Craig’s condition improved and he was able to get back into life without the terrible pain that had dragged him down for so long. This is what patients should reasonably expect from our team of Phoenix spine surgeons.
SUCCESS STORIES
For an active 39 year old who participates in Jiujitsu, having a spinal fusion would not have been the right thing for her. We were able to get her back on the mat after a successful disc replacement and she is back living her life
NO MORE BACK PAIN!
For an active young mom, having a spinal fusion was out of the question.
She was back in the gym THE SAME DAY after she had an Endoscopic Decompression. Dr. Baig and is living life
PAIN FREE!
This personal trainer got a cervical disc replacement.
She was able to avoid a fusion, keep her her range of motion, and get back
into the gym
PAIN FREE!
WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY
We wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our patients who take the time to leave a review about their experience at our practice.
Your kind words and feedback are greatly appreciated by our entire team, and your review helps other patients make an informed decision about where to turn to for care.
Thanks again for sharing your experience with others. You are making a difference.
T.M. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig and his team are phenomenal. I had a compressed nerve due to a bulging disc and was able to be seen relatively quickly. Surgery was quick and flawless and I have no complaints at all. I truly appreciated how fast they worked to get me seen and out of all the pain I was in! Highly recommend them."
A.H. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig literally changed my life for the better. I had a severely pinched nerve in my neck and needed to get surgery. Immediately at my first consult I felt comfortable and in good hands. I even walked away with a smile on my face during that scary time.
Surgery day couldn’t have gone better. The team he had also had a great bedside manner and helped keep me calm.
After the surgery and in the recovery room, he came in and checked on me and made sure I was all good before releasing me."
S.D. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig was going to be my second opinion for an upcoming scheduled spinal surgery. After my appointment, he will be my surgeon. He gave me a lot of information that was lacking from my other doctors. I felt very comfortable with Dr Baig and his entire office staff. Looking forward to living pain free after we strengthen my bones. It’s going to be a permanent fix and not a bandaid."
Consult Our Back Surgeons in Phoenix
Back pain can often be a result of an accident, injury, or congenital conditions such as scoliosis. Certain forms of back pain can be a result of the natural aging process, including conditions such as disc protrusion and spinal stenosis.
Today, advancements in imaging, and non surgical techniques have led to more treatment options than ever before, allowing us to return our patients the life they once knew…usually without the need for invasive spine surgery.
Typically, back surgeons in Phoenix offer one type of help, even though there are many others available. When you work with Dr. Baig at the Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center, you can rest assured that everything is on the table when it comes to potential treatments that are accepted by the medical world.
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As a top-rated spine specialist, Dr. Baig understands that this complicated part of the body can lead to many different problems, and each possibility will be considered before deciding on a treatment protocol.
Get answers, get help, get back to a better quality of life––schedule an appointment today.
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Herniated Disc Treatment in Phoenix, AZ
Disc Herniations (Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar)
Disc herniations occur when one of the intervertebral discs separating the vertebrae of the spine ruptures. When a disc herniates, its gel-like inner material breaks through a crack in its tough outer coating, often pressing on spinal nerves and causing pain, numbness, and weakness.
People sometimes describe the pain from a herniated disc as a “pinched nerve.” A herniated disc may also be referred to as a “ruptured disc” or a “slipped disc.” For this reason, herniated disc treatment is often referred to as “slipped disc treatment.”
A bulging disc is different from a herniated disc. With a bulging disc, the degenerating disc material in the lumbar disc bulges out between the vertebrae but does not break through the outer coating. Bulging discs are less likely to interfere with spinal nerves.
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