Intervertebral disc herniation frequently follows a traumatic event to the spine or heavy lifting. It is a problem that occurs in both men and women. Symptoms include back pain, limb pain and numbness that may make walking or sitting quite difficult. The main cause of the symptoms is impingement of nerves by the prolapsed disc. If they are looking for herniated disc pain relief Conroe residents need to understand a number of things beforehand.
Pharmacological agents are quite effective if carefully selected. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs are among those that are used on a day to day basis. The benefits of these drugs are two fold; they relieve the pain and reduce any associated inflammation. Some of the drugs include diclofenac, naproxen and ibuprofen. If these prove ineffective then stronger agents such as opioids can be considered. Steroids injected directly to the site are another possible option.
Physical manipulation includes chiropractic and massage. Exercises to the back can either be done by a trained professional or by the subject. Commonly, the two are combined. It is important to discuss with your doctor whether this method will be effective in your specific case. Even when other modes of management are chosen, physical therapy remains an important component that should be included whenever possible.
Traction is a method that is used for many problems involving the spine. In this method, the spine is subjected to a pulling force intended to restore the anatomical alignment of the vertebral bodies. The space between adjoining vertebral bodies increases and this may create room for the displaced disc. At least 20 sessions are required for meaningful improvement to be seen. There are no serous documented side effects of this method.
Surgery is only considered as a last resort when all the non-invasive modalities have been tried with no success. The types of surgeries that are done here are also known as decompression procedures. This is because they are mainly performed to relieve the compression exerted by the disc to other structures in the spine. The operation that is performed is named depending on the part of the spine that is removed. Common examples include laminectomy, osteophyte removal and corpectomy.
There are a number of complications that may be encountered by a person undergoing this operation. Short term complications include bleeding and injury to nerves. In the long term, patients may suffer from spine instability if an important component of the vertebral body is removed. When this happens, an additional operation, spine fusion surgery, may be needed.
There is inter-individual variability in the duration of time needed for recovery. Hospitalization may be needed for the first two to six weeks. Full recovery usually occurs in weeks to months depending on the extent of the operation. The pain may seem to worsen in the initial days but this changes in subsequent weeks and months. There are a significant number of patients who become symptom free for the rest of their lives.
The options that can be used in managing herniated disc pain are many. The choice is made based on the severity of the condition. It is important to seek the opinion of a doctor at the earliest available opportunity so as to intervene before the problem worsens. Ensure that you have a candid discussion on the benefits and risks of the various treatment modalities that exist.
Pharmacological agents are quite effective if carefully selected. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs are among those that are used on a day to day basis. The benefits of these drugs are two fold; they relieve the pain and reduce any associated inflammation. Some of the drugs include diclofenac, naproxen and ibuprofen. If these prove ineffective then stronger agents such as opioids can be considered. Steroids injected directly to the site are another possible option.
Physical manipulation includes chiropractic and massage. Exercises to the back can either be done by a trained professional or by the subject. Commonly, the two are combined. It is important to discuss with your doctor whether this method will be effective in your specific case. Even when other modes of management are chosen, physical therapy remains an important component that should be included whenever possible.
Traction is a method that is used for many problems involving the spine. In this method, the spine is subjected to a pulling force intended to restore the anatomical alignment of the vertebral bodies. The space between adjoining vertebral bodies increases and this may create room for the displaced disc. At least 20 sessions are required for meaningful improvement to be seen. There are no serous documented side effects of this method.
Surgery is only considered as a last resort when all the non-invasive modalities have been tried with no success. The types of surgeries that are done here are also known as decompression procedures. This is because they are mainly performed to relieve the compression exerted by the disc to other structures in the spine. The operation that is performed is named depending on the part of the spine that is removed. Common examples include laminectomy, osteophyte removal and corpectomy.
There are a number of complications that may be encountered by a person undergoing this operation. Short term complications include bleeding and injury to nerves. In the long term, patients may suffer from spine instability if an important component of the vertebral body is removed. When this happens, an additional operation, spine fusion surgery, may be needed.
There is inter-individual variability in the duration of time needed for recovery. Hospitalization may be needed for the first two to six weeks. Full recovery usually occurs in weeks to months depending on the extent of the operation. The pain may seem to worsen in the initial days but this changes in subsequent weeks and months. There are a significant number of patients who become symptom free for the rest of their lives.
The options that can be used in managing herniated disc pain are many. The choice is made based on the severity of the condition. It is important to seek the opinion of a doctor at the earliest available opportunity so as to intervene before the problem worsens. Ensure that you have a candid discussion on the benefits and risks of the various treatment modalities that exist.
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