Blunt trauma to the spine or heavy lifting may result in displacement (herniation) of one or more intervertebral discs. The condition affects men and women by an almost equal proportion. A displaced disc usually compresses adjacent structures such as nerves. This causes pain that is experienced on the back and on one or both lower limbs. If they intend to get herniated disc pain relief Conroe residents need to understand a number of important things beforehand.
There are many forms of drugs that can be used in managing this kind of symptoms. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a popular choice because they not only relive the symptoms but also help in reducing possible inflammation in the affected region which in turn serves to ease the compression of nerves. Examples include ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen among others. Stronger pain relievers such as opioids can be used if the NSAIDs prove ineffective. Steroid injections into affected areas have also been beneficial.
Physical therapies may be used in isolation or together with the drugs. They include active and passive back exercises. The active exercises are those that the subject can perform on themselves while the passive maneuvers are done by trained professionals (physiotherapists). The number of sessions needed will be determined by the response exhibited after the first few sessions. Another intervention related to this is chiropractic.
Traction is another effective non-invasive method. The method involves the application of a steady pulling force along the axis of the spine. The force increases the space between vertebral bodies. This may help the displaced disc to slip back to its position. Several sessions are usually required before the pain can be relieved. This procedure is usually conducted in an outpatient facility and takes between 30 minutes and one hour. There are very few side effects if any.
Surgery is only considered as a last resort when all the non-invasive modalities have been tried with no success. The types of surgeries that are done here are also known as decompression procedures. This is because they are mainly performed to relieve the compression exerted by the disc to other structures in the spine. The operation that is performed is named depending on the part of the spine that is removed. Common examples include laminectomy, osteophyte removal and corpectomy.
Surgery is associated with a number of complications. These may either be immediate or may be seen in the long term. Some of the immediate surgical complications include excessive bleeding and injury to vital structures such as nerves. Infections may also set in. Long term complications include spinal instability particularly when an important component has been removed from the spine. Spinal fusion surgery becomes a necessity to restore stability.
There is inter-individual variability in the duration of time needed for recovery. Hospitalization may be needed for the first two to six weeks. Full recovery usually occurs in weeks to months depending on the extent of the operation. The pain may seem to worsen in the initial days but this changes in subsequent weeks and months. There are a significant number of patients who become symptom free for the rest of their lives.
The options that can be used in managing herniated disc pain are many. The choice is made based on the severity of the condition. It is important to seek the opinion of a doctor at the earliest available opportunity so as to intervene before the problem worsens. Ensure that you have a candid discussion on the benefits and risks of the various treatment modalities that exist.
There are many forms of drugs that can be used in managing this kind of symptoms. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a popular choice because they not only relive the symptoms but also help in reducing possible inflammation in the affected region which in turn serves to ease the compression of nerves. Examples include ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen among others. Stronger pain relievers such as opioids can be used if the NSAIDs prove ineffective. Steroid injections into affected areas have also been beneficial.
Physical therapies may be used in isolation or together with the drugs. They include active and passive back exercises. The active exercises are those that the subject can perform on themselves while the passive maneuvers are done by trained professionals (physiotherapists). The number of sessions needed will be determined by the response exhibited after the first few sessions. Another intervention related to this is chiropractic.
Traction is another effective non-invasive method. The method involves the application of a steady pulling force along the axis of the spine. The force increases the space between vertebral bodies. This may help the displaced disc to slip back to its position. Several sessions are usually required before the pain can be relieved. This procedure is usually conducted in an outpatient facility and takes between 30 minutes and one hour. There are very few side effects if any.
Surgery is only considered as a last resort when all the non-invasive modalities have been tried with no success. The types of surgeries that are done here are also known as decompression procedures. This is because they are mainly performed to relieve the compression exerted by the disc to other structures in the spine. The operation that is performed is named depending on the part of the spine that is removed. Common examples include laminectomy, osteophyte removal and corpectomy.
Surgery is associated with a number of complications. These may either be immediate or may be seen in the long term. Some of the immediate surgical complications include excessive bleeding and injury to vital structures such as nerves. Infections may also set in. Long term complications include spinal instability particularly when an important component has been removed from the spine. Spinal fusion surgery becomes a necessity to restore stability.
There is inter-individual variability in the duration of time needed for recovery. Hospitalization may be needed for the first two to six weeks. Full recovery usually occurs in weeks to months depending on the extent of the operation. The pain may seem to worsen in the initial days but this changes in subsequent weeks and months. There are a significant number of patients who become symptom free for the rest of their lives.
The options that can be used in managing herniated disc pain are many. The choice is made based on the severity of the condition. It is important to seek the opinion of a doctor at the earliest available opportunity so as to intervene before the problem worsens. Ensure that you have a candid discussion on the benefits and risks of the various treatment modalities that exist.
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