Aging, genetics, and frequent driving are some of the factors that make a herniation more likely. People can’t always prevent disk herniation. This can result in pain, numbness, and weakness if the slipped disk causes pressure or irritation to nearby nerves. Learn more about herniated disk surgeries here.Ī herniated disk occurs when the jelly-like center of a spinal disk protrudes through the disk’s outer casing. Disk replacement: This procedure replaces herniated disks with artificial implants.

Spinal fusion: In this procedure, a surgeon may join two or more vertebrae together.Laminectomy: A surgeon may remove part of the vertebrae to make room for nerves.Nucleotomy: This removes the soft center (nucleus) of the disk via suction or laser excision.Discectomy: This is where a surgeon removes all or part of a disk.Surgical treatments for disk herniation include the following: However, the treating doctor may recommend surgery if a person has symptoms such as: Most of the time, disk herniation will improve with nonsurgical treatment. Learn more about epidural procedures here. Injection procedures that doctors use to treat a herniated disk include epidural injections and spinal nerve injections. The procedure is also known as a nerve block. InjectionsĪ doctor can use injection medications to help relieve the symptoms of a herniated disk. It is important to always consult a doctor when starting a new exercise or physical therapy program. A doctor can make more specific recommendations in an individual case. However, these medications can also cause side effects such as drowsiness.Ī physical therapist can recommend positions and exercises that minimize herniated disk pain.īecause disk herniation symptoms often resolve on their own, physical therapy is not usually recommended during the first 3 weeks after symptoms begin. Nerve pain medications: If symptoms persist over time, a doctor may prescribe anticonvulsant medications that people use for nerve pain, such as gabapentin.Muscle relaxants: These medications can help to relax painful areas, but they can also cause fatigue and other serious side effects.It is important to discuss the potential risks and side effects of opioid medications with a doctor if they recommend this treatment option.

Opioids: If pain is severe and OTC medications do not relieve discomfort, a doctor may prescribe opioid medications.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce pain.

Treatment options include medication, physical therapy, injections, and surgery. Most of the time, people can resolve symptoms by avoiding movements that trigger pain and following the exercise and pain management regimens that a doctor recommends. More than 85% of people with herniated disk symptoms will recover on their own, though this can take up to 12 weeks. This is the least common area for disk herniation. Pain may travel around the rib cage to the front of the body. Middle back (thoracic region)Ī herniated disk in the middle back is likely to cause pain around the location of the herniation. A serious herniation in the neck region can also cause stiffness, weakness, and numbn e ss in the legs. If the problem occurs in the neck, pain is more likely in the shoulders and arms. Pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the buttocks and down the legs, is known as sciatica. If the herniated disk is in the lower back, the pain often affects the buttocks, thighs, and calves. If a person has back pain and sudden changes to their bladder or bowel control, this is usually a sign that emergency medical help is needed. Symptoms of a herniated disk can also differ according to the location of the problem.Ī severely herniated disk in any region of the back can potentially cause problems with bowel or bladder control. People sometimes describe the sensation as burning or sharp.

Pain: This usually occurs in the back and may radiate out to the arms or legs.

Muscle weakness: When a herniated disk presses on a nerve, the muscles connected to the nerve may become weaker.

The unusual sensations may travel outwards along the nerve, into the arms or legs.

Numbness or tingling: This can happen when a herniated disk presses on the spinal cord or the nerves that exit the spinal cord.

In some cases, a person will have no symptoms. The herniated disk can also put pressure on nerves and cause pain through compression. The escape of the disk’s inner section releases chemicals that can irritate nerves in the surrounding area and cause inflammation and pain.

Bulge disk xray