Can you further injure a herniated disc

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The location of pain depends on what the affected nerve root is connected to. In extreme cases, a herniated disc will cause your arms or legs to tingle, or even go numb due to the pressure on the affected nerve. In these cases, you should call immediately. A bulging disc occurs when the fibrous outer wall of the disc weakens and the nucleus pulpous is pushing to get out, but has not yet ruptured through. This causes the disc to bulge outward, which is where the condition gets its name.

Bulging discs are less likely to cause pain than herniated discs because they generally do not protrude far enough to press on a nerve. However, a bulging disc is often progresses into full-blown herniated disc over time. Talking about herniated and bulging discs often gets confusing because of how similar they are.

A disc in the degeneration or prolapse stage what we call a bulging disc is technically still a herniated disc, even though the herniation has not yet occurred. This accounts for basically all of the confusion surrounding herniated and bulging discs. So, when someone talks about a bulging disc, they are referring to a disc in either the degeneration or prolapse stage. When someone talks about a herniated disc, they could be referring to a disc in any of the four stages.

When a patient comes in with back pain, a physician will usually take three steps to determine whether or not the patient has a herniated disc:. Depending on the severity of the herniated disc, there are three possible treatment options available:.

Pain management seeks to minimize the discomfort herniated discs cause. This is done either through medicine or injections. While these treatments are effective at reducing pain, they do nothing to stop the herniation from pressing on the spinal nerve. Physical therapy is a great treatment option for herniated discs because it can both relieve pain and reduce the likelihood of incurring future disc-related injuries.

Poor posture, weak muscles, and obesity all contribute to a disc herniating, and physical therapy helps improve all of the above. Herniated discs can almost always be treated without surgery, but surgical treatments are also an option, if necessary.

The orthopedic spine surgeon removes the herniated section of the disc, and closes the disc back up, effectively treating both the herniated disc and the pain associated with it. Our resident spine expert, Dr.

Michael Rohmiller , is a master of minimally invasive spine surgery and can work with you to find the best treatment option. We also have an excellent team of physical therapists who can tailor a plan to address your disc problems pre or post herniated disc. Schedule a meeting with Dr. Rohmiller today to discuss your injury and treatment options.

The acute pain that occurs with a herniated disc can transition into chronic pain if the injury is not addressed. Chronic pain can also become a second condition that requires treatment.

Herniated discs are a type of soft tissue injury because the disc is considered soft tissue. When the disc slips out of place a spine specialist can assist with realigning the disc.

However, in the case of a rupture, the disc does not have the ability to regenerate and this is considered damaged soft tissue. Depending on the severity of the injury, a herniated disc may need to be treated surgically in order to restore proper functioning to the area. A more severe condition caused by a herniated disc can be nerve damage. The spine houses the nervous system which communicates to the rest of the body through a complex connection of nerves, and when the spine or its connective tissues are damaged then the nervous system can be impacted.

When a herniated disc puts significant pressure on a nerve, it can lead to significant damage by cutting off nerve impulses. Compressed nerves can lead to significant conditions, including loss of sensation in lower extremities or even loss of bowel control. The sooner you seek medical treatment for a herniated disc, the more likely your spine specialist can provide you with non-surgical treatment options. On your first visit, your doctor will want to get a clear picture of the affected area through a variety of diagnostic imaging tools such as X-rays and CT scans.

An X-ray will provide your spine specialist with a greater understanding of any damage to the spine, while a CT scan will identify any soft tissue damage in addition to the spinal damage.