Best Herniated Disc Doctors

When you are seeking treatment for a spine condition, choosing the best physician for your situation is key. Back pain can have an enormous effect on quality of life, making timely and effective treatment essential. In addition, since the spine is a delicate structure, patients who need surgery or injections should take extra care to ensure they choose a well-qualified doctor with whom they feel comfortable.

Herniated Disc Symptoms and Diagnosis

Herniated discs are one of the most common causes of back pain and related symptoms. A herniated disc can occur due to improper lifting, a sports injury, an accident, obesity, pregnancy, or simple aging. As the discs age, they lose fluid; for this reason, herniation is more common during middle age, when the discs are losing fluid but people still tend to be relatively active. Obesity and pregnancy can be compounding factors because they require the discs to bear extra weight. However, anyone can get a herniated disc.

 Since most back pain is temporary and related to muscle strain, it can be hard to know which symptoms warrant medical attention. Symptoms of herniated discs include:

• Back pain
  
• Pain in the legs or arms
  
• Numbness or tingling in the legs or arms 
  
• Muscle weakness
  

When you visit your doctor, he or she will use diagnostic tools such as MRI to determine whether or not you have a herniated disc. The symptoms of herniated discs mirror those of other spine conditions that caused pinched nerves; without diagnostic testing, it is impossible to know the underlying cause.

When you are seeking a diagnosis, it is important to find a doctor with good bedside manner; you should never feel that your physician is not taking or symptoms seriously. In addition, many patients have questions about testing, diagnosis, and treatment; your doctor should answer your questions fully without making you feel rushed.

Herniated Disc Doctors

Most patients will have a different doctor for their initial diagnosis and treatment than for surgery. Patients will receive initial treatment from a general practitioner or orthopedist; this includes rest, medication, and physical therapy.

If these methods fail, it is time to consider surgical treatment. Surgical treatment removes the excess disc tissue, while non-surgical treatments reduce inflammation and the amount of weight borne by the disc. Surgery, then, is the only way to actually cure a herniated disc; other treatments simply alleviate symptoms.

Surgery on the spine is a very delicate procedure, and surgeons need extensive training to be operate on the spine. Whether the herniated disc is being treated with traditional or laser back surgery, the procedure is delicate: surgeons must remove just the amount of disc material at just the right location, without harming nearby structures. While laser surgery is minimally invasive, it is just as dangerous as traditional back surgery when performed by the wrong surgeon. Because of the delicate nature of the procedure, choosing a physician with strong training, plenty of experience, and many successful patients is important. In addition, you may benefit from choosing a physician who prioritizes minimally invasive procedures and ongoing education.

If you are in the New York City are and are looking for a physician to treat your herniated disc, consider
Dr. Sukdeb Datta, MD, DABPM, FIPP, DABIPP. Dr. Datta specializes in the treatment of back pain, including herniated discs. A trained, board-certified surgeon, he uses minimally invasive procedures such as epidural injections and laser spine surgery to relieve back pain. Dr. Datta has extensive experience in pain management, including serving as Director of the Interventional Pain Management Program at Vanderbilt University before coming to the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center.