Herniated Disc

What's a Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve, Bulging Disc...?

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

There are many different terms used to describe spinal disc pathology and associated pain, such as “herniated disc”, “pinched nerve”, and “bulging disc”, and all are used differently by doctors.

Cervical Herniated Disc Symptoms and Treatment

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:47 -0800

Arm pain from a cervical herniated disc is one of the more common cervical spine conditions treated by spine specialists. It usually develops in the 30 - 50 year old age group. Although a cervical herniated disc may originate from some sort of trauma or injury to the cervical spine, the symptoms, including arm pain, commonly start spontaneously.

Cervical Herniated Disc Treatments: Doctor Answers Patient Questions

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:49 -0800

Peter Ullrich, MD

Cervical Herniated Disc: Doctor Answers Patient Questions

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:49 -0800

Peter Ullrich, MD

Conservative Treatment for a Cervical Herniated Disc

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:49 -0800

First line of treatment for a cervical herniated disc

More Herniated Disc Info:

What’s a Herniated Disc?

Hern. Disc Treatments

Cervical Herniated Disc

Hern. Disc Exercises

Conservative Treatments for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Combining Treatment Options for a Lumbar Herniated Disc

Within the first six weeks it is probably reasonable to try different medications, modalities and therapies to try to alleviate the pain and give the disk herniation time to heal. With time the body can reabsorb the disk herniation, and if the symptoms start to abate within the six-week period, continued conservative treatment for the herniated disk is warranted.

Diagnostic Tests for a Cervical Herniated Disc

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:49 -0800

After the initial exam, special diagnostic imaging tests may be required to better diagnose a cervical herniated disc.

MRI Scan to Identify a Cervical Herniated Disc

The single best test to diagnose a herniated disc is an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan. An MRI scan can image any nerve root pinching caused by a herniated cervical disk.

Herniated Cervical Disc, Cervical Radiculopathy

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:20 -0800

Cervical herniated disc is less common than a lumbar herniated disc

Herniated cervical disc is far less common than lumbar disc herniation for two reasons:

Herniated Disc Case: Spine Surgeon Viewpoint

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Conservative Care for the Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc: Multi-Specialty Case Review

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Chief Complaint: Right Leg Pain

History of present illness

Herniated Disc: Physiatrist Viewpoint

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Herniated Disc Symptoms

This patient has a classic presentation for a lumbar disc herniation causing a lumbar radiculopathy. When a disc herniates and compresses a nerve, the patient will experience pain in the leg, and frequently pain will be much worse with sitting.

Herniated Disc: Physical Therapist Viewpoint

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Referral to a Physical Therapist for a Herniated Disc

A patient with pathology as described in this case may not be referred to physical therapy, but instead be referred directly to a spine surgeon. Once the surgeon assessed the extent of the pathology and discussed options for care with the patient, physical therapy might be one of the options.

Insights and Advice About Herniated Discs

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

More Herniated Disc Info:

What’s a Herniated Disc?

Disc Treatments

Lumbar Herniated Disc

Cervical Herniated Disc

Lumbar Herniated Disc

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:20 -0800

As a disc degenerates, it can herniate (the inner core leaks out), which is known as a disc herniation or a herniated disc. The weak spot in the outer core of the disc is directly under the spinal nerve root, so a herniation in this area puts direct pressure on the nerve, which in turn can cause sciatica -- pain that radiates all the way down the patient’s leg to the foot (see Figure 1).

Lumbar Herniated Disc Treatments: Doctor Answers Patient Questions

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Peter Ullrich, MD

Lumbar Herniated Disc: Doctor Answers Patient Questions

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Peter Ullrich, MD

Pinched Nerve Versus Disc Pain and the Proper Treatment

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

It is important for both patients and doctors to have a strong understanding of the different conditions within spinal disc pathology, especially when discussing treatments. Different spinal disc conditions require different treatments to alleviate the pain. The key factor in the clinical diagnosis is to determine whether the patient has a pinched nerve or if the disc space itself is generating the pain.

Spine Surgery for a Cervical Herniated Disc

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:49 -0800

Most episodes of arm pain due to a cervical herniated disc will resolve over a period of weeks to a couple of months. However, if the pain lasts longer than 6 to 12 weeks, or if the pain and disability is severe, spine surgery may be a reasonable option.

Spine surgery for a cervical herniated disc is generally very reliable and can be done with a minimal amount of postoperative pain and morbidity (unwanted aftereffects).

Summary of Cervical Herniated Disc Treatment Options

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:49 -0800

Most treatments for a cervical herniated disc are designed to relieve the arm pain. If the pain can be relieved with conservative (non-surgical) treatment, then any weakness or numbness/tingling should resolve with time.

Surgery Options for a Herniated Disc

Ben Parr — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:22:00 -0700

More Herniated Disc Info:

Hern. Disc Treatments

Lumbar Herniated Disc

Cervical Herniated Disc

Hern. Disc Exercises

Surgical Treatments for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

The goal of surgery for a lumbar herniated disk is to remove the portion of the disk that is impinging on the nerve root (usually about 5% to 10% of the disk).

Surgery Options for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

There are many different options for surgery for herniated disks. Whichever procedure the surgeon uses probably does not matter as much as their comfort level with the procedure, and with their experience.

The gold standard for surgery is an open or microsurgical discectomy.

Thoracic Disc Herniation Symptoms

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

More Herniated Disc Info:

What’s a Herniated Disc?

Hern. Disc Treatments

Lumbar Herniated Disc

Cervical Herniated Disc

Thoracic Disc Herniation Treatment

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

The vast majority of symptomatic thoracic disc herniations can be treated without surgery. There are a variety of non-surgical treatment options that can be tried, and often patients will need to try several, or a combination of different treatments, to find what works best for them.

Non-operative Treatments

Non-surgical treatment options for upper back pain and other symptoms from a thoracic herniated disc will typically include one or a combination of the following:

Treatment Considerations for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

spine-health — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 08:36:52 -0800

Deciding between herniated disk treatments
The decision to continue with conservative treatment options or have surgery principally depends on one's level of pain and dysfunction.

Treatment Options for a Herniated Disc

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Individualized treatment for a herniated disc

More Herniated Disc Info:

What’s a Herniated Disc?

Lumbar Herniated Disc

Cervical Herniated Disc

Hern. Disc Exercises

Treatment Options for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:26:50 -0800

Introduction to Lumbar Herniated Disk Treatment

The care of a patient with a lumbar herniated disk is far from standardized and, to a certain extent, needs to be individualized for each patient. A lumbar herniated disk usually causes leg pain (sciatica or a radiculopathy) and is often referred to as a pinched nerve, bulging disk, ruptured disk, or a slipped disk.

Herniated Disc

What's a Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve, Bulging Disc...?

Cervical Herniated Disc Symptoms and Treatment

Cervical Herniated Disc Treatments: Doctor Answers Patient Questions

Cervical Herniated Disc: Doctor Answers Patient Questions

Conservative Treatment for a Cervical Herniated Disc

First line of treatment for a cervical herniated disc

Conservative Treatments for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

Combining Treatment Options for a Lumbar Herniated Disc

Diagnostic Tests for a Cervical Herniated Disc

MRI Scan to Identify a Cervical Herniated Disc

Herniated Cervical Disc, Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical herniated disc is less common than a lumbar herniated disc

Herniated Disc Case: Spine Surgeon Viewpoint

Conservative Care for the Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc: Multi-Specialty Case Review

Chief Complaint: Right Leg Pain

History of present illness

Herniated Disc: Physiatrist Viewpoint

Herniated Disc Symptoms

Herniated Disc: Physical Therapist Viewpoint

Referral to a Physical Therapist for a Herniated Disc

Insights and Advice About Herniated Discs

Lumbar Herniated Disc

Lumbar Herniated Disc Treatments: Doctor Answers Patient Questions

Lumbar Herniated Disc: Doctor Answers Patient Questions

Pinched Nerve Versus Disc Pain and the Proper Treatment

Spine Surgery for a Cervical Herniated Disc

Summary of Cervical Herniated Disc Treatment Options

Surgery Options for a Herniated Disc

Surgical Treatments for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

Surgery Options for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

Thoracic Disc Herniation Symptoms

Thoracic Disc Herniation Treatment

Non-operative Treatments

Treatment Considerations for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

Treatment Options for a Herniated Disc

Individualized treatment for a herniated disc

Treatment Options for a Lumbar Herniated Disk

Introduction to Lumbar Herniated Disk Treatment

Understanding the Clinical Diagnosis of a Herniated Disc

Integrated Findings Form the Clinical Diagnosis

Upper Back Pain from a Thoracic Herniated Disc

Thoracic Disc Herniation