is there a cure for a herniated disc

Herniated discs are a common culprit behind a wide range of back conditions, from muscle weakness to sciatica. Anyone suffering from the effects of a herniated disc knows how important getting effective treatment is. Fortunately, herniated discs can also be treated effectively or even cured with a range of methods.

Causes & Symptoms

Each vertebrae in the spine is cushioned by an intervertebral disc. Each disc has two parts: a gel-like inner nucleus pulposus, and a tougher, outer annulus fibrosis. A herniation occurs when part of the disc ruptures, causing it to bulge in one area; the disc loses its normal shape. Herniated discs occur most commonly in the lumbar spine, or lower back, but they can also occur in the cervical spine, or neck. A herniated disc can be caused by a variety of issues:

• During the normal aging process, the discs begin to contain less fluid, making them more prone to injury and less effective at cushioning the vertebrae.
• Improper lifting can cause a herniated disc. This is especially common among people with very physical jobs.
• Accidents can cause sudden trauma to the spine, resulting in a herniation.

Intervertebral discs are made of cartilage, which receives very little blood. Because of the lack of blood flow, the discs do not receive the nutrients they need to heal naturally; this is also why a torn meniscus in the knee often requires surgery. While non-surgical treatments can eliminate symptoms, only surgery actually removes the herniation.

Although herniated discs cause debilitating symptoms for some patients, other people have a herniated disc without ever experiencing symptoms at all. A herniated disc will cause pain or neurological defects only when it presses on either the spinal cord or nerve roots. For those who do experience negative effects, common conditions include:

• Back pain
• Numbness or tingling in the leg or arm, depending on whether the disc is in the lumbar or cervical portion of the spine
• Muscle weakness in the leg or arm
• Pain in the leg, buttock, or arm

All of these symptoms can also result from other underlying conditions; for that reason, only a doctor can tell you whether or not you have a herniated disc. Diagnosis may include MRI scans or selective injection of anesthesia.

Treatment

Although herniated discs can have an extremely negative effect on quality of life, they are also quite treatable.

The first line of defense is non-surgical treatment. Your doctor will recommend treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication or steroid injections into the spine. These relieve pain by reducing the amount of inflammation. Alternatively, lifestyle changes such as physical therapy, weight loss, and chiropractry can reduce the amount of weight borne by the disc, alleviating symptoms.

For many patients, however, these treatments are not enough to reduce pain. In this case, surgery is necessary. Surgical treatments are aimed not at merely reducing pain, but at actually removing the herniation.

In the past, spine surgery was a major procedure, requiring a stay in the hospital and a long time away from work. Now, however, minimally invasive procedures such as laser spine surgery are the gold standard in the treatment of herniated discs. Using modern techniques, the surgeon is able to access the herniation using one or two small needles. Then, using special tools and an endoscopic camera, radiofrequency or laser energy is applied carefully. This causes a small amount of the inner portion of the disc to dissolve. In response, the disc reabsorbs the herniation. Laser disc surgery cures the herniated disc while the patient is in the office, allowing him or her to return home with the symptoms relieved.

Only a doctor can tell you whether laser surgery is right for you. To schedule a consultation about your herniated disc or other back problems, please call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at 347-380-9138