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Spine trauma caused by a fall, auto accident, or sports injury can increase your risk of a herniated disc. At Girard Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group, Inc., diagnostic testing is available in their offices to quickly find a herniated disc and evaluate its severity. Orthopaedic specialist Neil Tayyab, MD, personalizes a treatment plan using nonsurgical therapies to ease herniated disc pain. Dr. Tayyab can also qualify you for surgery to remove a herniated disc and restore your spine’s range of motion. Call the Chula Vista or San Diego, California, office today to schedule a herniated disc evaluation or book an appointment online.
What is a herniated disc?
A herniated disc is a damaged spinal disc. These discs are each positioned between two vertebrae of your spine. Each disc has a tough outer shell enclosing a soft gel center. The discs absorb the shocks of your movements and provide your spine’s range of motion.
Spine trauma can herniate (break open) the disc’s outer shell, forcing the gel to leak. When the center material presses on nearby spinal nerves, it triggers pain and other persistent symptoms.
You’re more susceptible to a herniated disc as you age, and age-related changes occur in your spine. The discs dry out as you age, and the outer shell becomes brittle. Even minor spinal movements can cause a herniated disc as your discs weaken.
Girard Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group, Inc. provides comprehensive care to adults and adolescents with herniated discs. Dr. Tayyab provides nonsurgical and surgical treatments to ease your symptoms and restore your spine’s range of motion.
When should I seek treatment for a herniated disc?
Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Girard Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group, Inc., if you have symptoms of a herniated disc that affect your back or neck, including:
- Pain
- Tingling
- Weakness
- Numbness
These symptoms vary in severity from person to person and are made worse by some movements. In specific cases, symptoms become chronic and debilitating.
Dr. Tayyab performs a physical exam and evaluates your spine’s range of motion. He also provides in-office X-rays and other imaging tests to pinpoint the site of the herniated disc.
How is a herniated disc treated?
Herniated discs often heal naturally with rest and lifestyle changes. Dr. Tayyab can prescribe anti-inflammatories or pain-relieving medication to ease back or neck pain. Relieving the pain allows you to participate in physical therapy and at-home exercises.
Chronic or severe herniated disc pain could call for discectomy surgery to remove a herniated disc. You might also need spinal fusion, a surgery to fuse two or more vertebrae to improve your spine’s stability.
Call the Girard Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group, Inc. office nearest you today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for herniated disc symptoms or book an appointment online.