Herniated Disc Pain Can Be Managed With the Right Treatment!
If you suffer from a herniated disc, we at Physical Therapy Now understand how you feel, and we know how to help. Herniated discs are one of the more common injuries we see. Our licensed physical therapists know exactly how to approach this type of injury and pain so you can get back to living a more comfortable life as quickly as possible.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
You might be wondering what exactly a disc is and how it might become herniated. Great questions. A disc is a rubbery cushion that rests between each vertebrae (spinal bones) that stack up to create your spine. The disc itself has a soft, jelly-like center that’s surrounded by a tough, rubber-like encasing.
The herniation occurs when the jellylike center pushes through a tear in the rubbery exterior. The jellylike nucleus (as it’s sometimes called) can then wind up resting on a nerve in your back, which can cause pain in the back as well as numbness, or weakness in an extremity. Then again, some people (the lucky ones) experience no pain or symptoms at all. Most herniated discs are located in the lower back or the neck.
You may be familiar with the terms “ruptured disc” or “slipped disc.” These are just other names for a herniated disc. But no matter what you call it, we can help!
Treatment Options for Herniated Discs
There are a few ways to go after herniated discs and the associated pain and numbness.
- Pain-relieving injection: Pain-relieving medication, muscle relaxers, and opioids are also options, but pain meds are sometimes best avoided if at all possible (especially opioids). Many doctors will suggest an injection, such as an epidural or cortisone shot, especially if pain meds aren’t effective in relieving the discomfort. While not the most pleasant experience, an injection can be highly effective at targeting the pain–some injections wear off within a few months, others may be effective for years.
- Surgery: This is usually a last-resort option if absolutely nothing else is relieving the pain. Most physicians choose to avoid spinal surgery at all costs unless it’s unavoidable and resulting in serious medical complications such as debilitating numbness or weakness, difficulty standing or walking, or loss of bowel and/or bladder control. Herniated discs don’t always require surgery, and if they do, the procedure generally consists of removing the protruding part of the disc that’s causing the pain.
- Physical therapy: We definitely saved the best option for last because it is the least invasive and remarkably effective! Physical therapy can be quite effective in managing the pain of a herniated disc. A skilled physical therapist, like ours at Physical Therapy Now, will figure out (with you) the best course of treatment and show you specific positions and exercises you can use to minimize the pain.
Herniated Disc Therapy in Irving
Your therapist will want to promote flexibility in your spine, reduce pressure in your spinal column, and also build up the muscles in the injured area. To do this, you will work on improving your posture (this can help reduce that spinal pressure), improving motion through exercises and stretches, building core strength, and restoring endurance if you’ve been off your feet for a while. Some of the therapies that might be used include massage therapy, and exercise therapy, and much more.
Not only will our physical therapists here at Physical Therapy Now work with you in our beautiful, state-of-the-art facility in Irving, but they’ll also send you home with some exercises to do on your own. Our Irving location offers convenient access to anyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and we’re ready to help you overcome your herniated disc pain and get you feeling great again. Call us at (214) 225-0291 to set up your first appointment today!
