Disc Herniation

What is the difference between a slipped disc and disc herniation?

A slipped disc and disc herniation refer to the same intervertebral disc injury. Intervertebral discs separate and cushion each bone in your spine. These discs have a tough exterior and a gel-like interior.

Disc herniation means the gel-like material in the intervertebral disc is pushing out through a crack in the tough exterior. The displaced disc material may irritate or compress a spinal nerve or the spinal cord, causing pain.

You can develop disc herniation following an acute injury, such as a car accident or heavy lifting. However, you’re more likely to get the disc injury as you get older due to age-related degenerative changes, making the discs more vulnerable to tears and herniations. 

Can I have pain that radiates into my legs with disc herniation?

If you have disc herniation in the lower back (lumbar spine), it may irritate the sciatic nerve and cause pain that radiates down the back of a leg. This is called sciatica. Disc herniation may occur in any part of the spine, and symptoms can help determine the location. 

Disc herniation in the neck (cervical spine) may cause pain that radiates into the head, upper back, or arms. You may also experience tingling, numbness, or burning sensations in your extremities. 

Not everyone with disc herniation has pain. If your displaced disc isn’t irritating a nerve, you may not have any discomfort. 

Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine has leaders in pain management who treat all types of pain-causing conditions. If your disc herniation is affecting your quality of life, the team can help.

What happens during an evaluation for disc herniation?

Your provider at Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine conducts a thorough history and physical exam for your disc herniation. They ask about your symptoms, when they started, and the activities that make them worse.

They also request imaging tests such as a discogram to confirm the location and severity of your disc herniation. 

What treatments can reduce pain caused by disc herniation?

Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine customizes disc herniation treatment plans using the most current methods, so you get the best outcomes. Treatment may include:

• Activity modification
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic adjustments
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Epidural injections

Most people get relief from disc herniation pain without surgery. 

Call Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine today or book your disc herniation consultation online.