how do I know if I have a herniated disc

Almost all people experience back pain at one time or another - muscle strain, poor posture, pregnancy, and other temporary issues are common causes. However, some people have back pain which does not go away on its own; in this case, further diagnosis is treatment. Herniated discs are a common cause of chronic back and limb pain. While sometimes a herniated disc can be treated without surgery, many patients require herniated disc surgery to regain their quality of life.

Since back pain is so ubiquitous, it can be hard to know when to seek treatment. In general, if your back pain or other symptoms are having a significant effect on your quality of life, or if symptoms do not fade after several weeks, you should seek treatment. Even if you do not end up medication or surgery, your doctor can help you make lifestyle changes which will reduce the severity and occurrence of back pain in the future.

Signs of Herniated Discs

Only a doctor can make diagnose a herniated disc. Many symptoms are common to a variety of spinal problems - back pain and associated symptoms can be caused by a wide range of spinal problems, some of which are more severe than others. Therefore, an MRI scan and a professional analysis is needed to make a firm diagnosis. However, if your symptoms match one or more of the following signs, you may have a herniated disc or other spinal problem which needs treatment.

• Chronic back pain
• Pain which gets worse when coughing or bending
• Pain in the leg, buttock, or arm
• Tingling or numbness in the limbs
• Muscle weakness

A herniated disc may occur after a specific single incident, such as an sports injury or accident. Others develop herniated discs slowly over time, as the aging process reduces the amount of fluid in each disc, making the discs more prone to tearing. Herniated discs do not heal on their own, although the symptoms can often be effectively treated without surgery. For this reason, if you have symptoms of a herniated disc or have been diagnosed with one, a "watching and waiting" approach will rarely be used - instead, treatment will be attempted immediately.

Treatment

After you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, your doctor will develop a plan to treat your condition. Although herniated disc surgery techniques have advanced a great deal, surgery is rarely the first option. In addition, surgery is usually only recommended if the herniated disc is accompanied by either severe pain, or neurological deficits. Few patients diagnosed with a herniated disc go on to need surgery; for most, conservative treatment is enough to ease the symptoms.

Conservative treatments include anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, physical therapy, and chiropractry. For patients who need herniated disc surgery, laser surgery and other minimally invasive techniques can be performed in an outpatient setting, allowing patients to return home the same day and to work within a week. In contrast, in the past open back surgery was the only option when it came to herniated disc surgery, and patients experienced a much slower, more painful recovery.

Regardless of the method of treatment, there are several steps patients can take before, during, and after treatment to minimize symptoms. In fact, these tips are helpful at preventing and alleviating most types of back pain, regardless of source.

• If you are obese, lose weight; even a 10% reduction reduces the load borne by the discs
• Do core-strengthening exercises such as Pilates or yoga
• Practice good posture - although bad posture does not cause herniated discs, it can exacerbate symptoms
• Eat a healthy diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables

Only your doctor can diagnose you with a herniated disc, and make a care plan for your recovery. If you think you may have a herniated disc, please call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at 347-380-9138.