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If you’re experiencing pain in your back, you might suffer from a herniated disc. As NJ’s top spine surgeon, we offer compassionate and effective herniated disc treatment. In this article, we discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment of disc herniations.
If you believe you have a herniated disc, read the article to discover more, then reach out to a specialist for diagnosis and help.
Your spine consists of 24 small rubber-like discs that act as cushions between the bones and prevent them from rubbing. When one becomes herniated, the jelly-like substance within it bulges out, causing severe pain for most people.
Types of disc herniations include:
Age and injury are the primary causes of a herniated disc. As a person ages, the discs dry out, and the space between them narrows. Back injuries, such as improperly lifting heavy objects, also cause herniated discs.
The following factors can increase a person’s risks:
While some people experience a herniated disc without any symptoms, others experience a wide variety of painful side effects. The most common symptoms include the following.
The pain might radiate throughout the entire back or remain specific to the place of injury. The pain likely increases from repetitive motions, such as prolonged sitting or frequently bending over. Coughing and sneezing also cause a severe spike in pain.
Sciatica is an acute or chronic pain that radiates from the hips, down the legs, and up into the lower back. It might include simple leg pain or encompass the entire side of your lower body. It most often feels like a burning or stabbing in the leg.
In 90% of sciatica cases, nerve compression in the L4 or L5 vertebrae cause the condition, according to PubMed Central.
A herniated disc often results in weakness in your leg or foot, including numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needle sensation. The sensation may also occur in the neck or arms, depending on which disc is bulging.
In up to 50% of patients, a herniated disc can cause a loss of bladder or bowel control, according to PubMed Central. This is a clear sign you should seek help in diagnosing and treating the issue.
Seek a diagnosis if your symptoms become so severe they cause the following:
After establishing your medical history, your doctor uses the following steps to diagnose your herniated disc.
The doctor establishes whether you have any weakness or sensory loss and examine the reflexes, mobility, and strength of your limbs.
The Straight Leg Raise test requires you to lie on a table while the doctor attempts to lift your leg. If you feel pain, you likely have a herniated disc.
If the doctor believes you’re experiencing a herniated disc, they’ll order a CT-Scan, MRI, or X-ray to pinpoint the problem and establish a treatment plan.
Doctors have several options for herniated disc treatment, depending on the location and severity of the condition. They’ll suggest one of the following treatments:
They can also advise how to heal a herniated disc quickly.
According to a 2023 study in the American Journal of Medicine, nearly 80% of people worldwide will experience lower back pain within their lifetime. Lumbar disc herniations are the most common cause for this lower back pain. Yet, a herniated disc can occur anywhere on the spine and cause back, neck, leg, and arm pain depending on the location of the bulging disc.
If you’re interested in herniated disc surgery in New Jersey, look no further than Dr. Grigory Goldberg, MD. As an experienced spinal surgeon who focuses on patient care, he uses minimally invasive spine surgeries to help patients get relief from ongoing back pain. Learn more about this procedure and how it could help remedy your herniated disc.
Not everyone needs surgery for herniated discs. Most people will get relief from the radiating pain that often accompanies this condition after a few days or weeks. Sometimes, people can have a bulging disc and experience no symptoms.
Unfortunately, you might need herniated disc surgery if the condition persists or worsens without little to no relief. The problem could be due to a disc fragment putting excessive pressure on the nerve nearest it in your spinal column. In that case, the pinched nerve will cause pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling sensations in the part of the body that the nerve connects to.
A surgical procedure might not be the first treatment option for your condition. Your doctor may recommend it depending on the location of the disc herniation and the severity of your symptoms.
Spinal surgeries for herniated discs help release the pressure on pinched nerves that contribute to various symptoms. Spinal surgeons use several methods to achieve this goal.
A popular method is endoscopic spine surgery. In this procedure, the doctor uses an endoscope to cut away the damaged disc. The process is minimally invasive yet effective.
Here are other methods your doctor might consider for your herniated disc surgery.
These procedures use small incisions in the middle of the back or neck to remove part of the lamina. The lamina is the back part of each spine bone or vertebra that covers the spinal canal around the spinal cord. After removing part of the lamina (laminotomy) or the entire lamina (laminectomy), the doctor will remove the herniated disc.
A spinal fusion is a surgery that will stabilize the spine by connecting two neighboring bones with screws. Unfortunately, pain and restricted movements are common side effects of spinal fusion surgery, but it’s necessary for lumbar laminotomies and frontal cervical laminotomies.
Instead of spinal fusion, your doctor may recommend an artificial disc surgery. The doctor will replace the offending disc instead of simply removing it. Artificial disc surgery usually causes less pain and allows more freedom of movement.
Despite being minimally invasive, doctors carefully approach herniated disc surgery to minimize complications. They’ll only proceed with the procedure after thoroughly assessing your health. When it’s time for the surgery, surgeons will follow these general steps:
Herniated disc surgery can be outpatient, with many people going home within hours of the procedure. Others may stay under their doctors’ observation for 24 hours.
The quicker you have the spinal surgery, the faster you may recover. Total recovery could take three to six months, but you should stay away from driving, sitting for too long, bending over, and lifting heavy things for the first four weeks following your surgery to hasten your recovery.
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, roughly one in ten people with herniated discs will need surgery. In most cases, the symptoms go away on their own over time.
Still, disc herniation surgeries are also effective. A study within the National Library of Medicine reports that almost 95% of cervical disc herniation surgeries achieve long-term success, while nearly 80% of lumbar herniated disc surgeries have excellent or good long-term results.
Other reasons to consider disc herniation surgery using minimally invasive techniques include:
You don’t have to let the pain and limitations of a herniated disc rule your life. Dr. Grigory Goldberg, MD is a renowned spine specialist with vast knowledge of disc herniations, degenerative spine disease, and other spinal afflictions. As one of New Jersey’s top surgeons specializing in herniated disc surgery using advanced minimally invasive techniques, he can help put you on the right path to recovery.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. Book an appointment with Dr. Grigory Goldberg, MD online today or call one of our six convenient clinic locations in New Jersey.
Discover how car accidents can contribute to herniated disc disease, then contact our team for more assistance.
A herniated disc can cause serious pain and reduce your overall quality of life. When you seek herniated disc treatment from our physical therapists and spine specialists, we help you reclaim your life and mobility.
If you know or suspect you’re experiencing a herniated disc, don’t wait any longer. We can diagnose you and start treatment.
We accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP. Same-day appointments may be available. If you’ve suffered a herniated disc, we also provide spine disc replacement.
It’s not uncommon for people experiencing complicated symptoms of a herniated disc to have questions about surgical treatments. Below, we answer some of the most common questions we hear to provide additional guidance and information.
You can help prevent the herniated disc in various ways, though because age is a factor, you can never eliminate the risk. To reduce your risk, stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight, strengthen your back and abdomen with frequent exercise, and practice proper lifting techniques.
Surgical options for herniated discs include a discectomy (removing the protruding portion of the disc), laminotomy (removing the disk), artificial disc surgery, and spinal fusion.
If you ignore the pain from a herniated disc, you could experience long-term chronic pain and permanent nerve damage. To reclaim your full mobility and quality of life, seek herniated disc treatment before your symptoms become severe.
If you don’t want herniated disc surgery, you can do certain things to foster strong spinal health, like managing your weight, practicing good posture, and learning how to lift heavy items correctly to avoid back strain.
It may be time to consider a surgical procedure to treat a herniated disc if your symptoms persist for more than six weeks. You may also be a candidate for surgery if conservative treatments like steroid injections and rest don’t alleviate your symptoms.
If you choose not to get herniated disc surgery, the damage could result in a permanent disability. Depending on the location of the problematic disc, you could develop arm or leg pain or have trouble turning your head without pain.
Technically, there isn’t an age limit for herniated disc surgery. Young people and seniors over the age of 65 can qualify for the treatment, yet older patients have some of the highest risks for post-surgery complications.
