Herniated Disc Treatment in Columbia, SC

What is a Herniated Disc?

A herniated disc is a spine issue. Your spine is made up of several bones called vertebrae that go from the base of your head to your tailbone. There are discs, which are round pillows, between each of your vertebrae.

The discs act as cushions between your bones, which makes it easy for you to turn and move. A herniated disc is when one of these disks tears or leaks.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

The signs of a herniated disk depend on where in your spine the problem is.

Signs and symptoms include:

Back pain
Legs and/or feet that feel tingly or numb
Weakness in muscles
Pain in your shoulder blades or between them
Your shoulder, arm, and sometimes your hand and fingers hurt
Pain in your back and on the sides and back of your neck
Pain that gets worse when you bend your neck or turn it
Your arms feel numb or tingly

The Spine Physicians, Pain Management Team, and Physical Therapy Staff at Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery will work together to provide a personalized approach to treat your herniated disc pain and symptoms.

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What Causes a Herniated Disc?

The middle of a disc is soft and gel-like, and the outside is more solid, like a jelly doughnut. The top layer gets weaker over time and can crack. When the inner “jelly” part of the disc pushes through the crack, this is called a herniated disc. The leaked material could put pressure on nearby spinal nerves.

A disc rupture can be caused by a number of things, such as:

Aging
Too much weight
Repeat motions
A strain that happens all of a sudden because of an improper lift or twist

Herniated Disc Treatment

Most of the time, the pain from a herniated disc goes away on its own. While your disc is healing, you can:

Rest for up to three days if your pain is severe, but try not to stay in bed the whole time to avoid stiffness
Take over-the-counter medication, like ibuprofen or Tylenol
Use heat or ice to help relieve pain and swelling

Nonsurgical treatments for a herniated disc added to the above home solutions may include:

Medications – Your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory pain reliever or muscle relaxer to help you relax while healing
Physical therapy – A physical therapist will show you how to do exercises that will help your nerves feel better. Exercise loosens up tight muscles and makes the blood flow better
Spinal injections – This involves an injection of steroids right into your spine. The medicine makes the nerve less swollen and inflamed because of the herniated disc. This will help your body heal faster and get you back to doing things

Rarely, a severe herniated disk could damage nerves that control the bladder or bowel, which may need surgery right away. When other methods don’t work for cases that aren’t emergencies, spine surgery is an option with the goal of relieving pressure off the nerves.

Herniated Disc Care in South Carolina

At Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery our physicians will work together to find a personalized way to treat your pain and symptoms. Call 803-256-4107 if you’ve been having herniated disc symptoms.