Herniated Disc Treatment in New York
What is a herniated disc?
Your spine is made up of a series of vertebrae, or spinal bones, which are linked together and separated with rubbery discs that prevent the bones from rubbing one another. Inside of each of these spinal discs is a soft, squishy material that gives the discs their elasticity. When the outer shell of one of your spinal discs breaks and allows the inner material to leak out, it is known as a herniated disc, which requires medical attention. Although the condition occurs in the spine, due to the number of nearby nerve endings, it can affect a wide range of areas in your body. Most commonly, disc herniation causes tingling and pain in the lower back and legs, known as sciatica.
What causes a herniated disc?
A herniated disc can occur for a number of reasons, most commonly relating to the body’s natural aging process, causing wear and tear to the spinal discs. A normal part of spinal disc aging involves the loss of water content, making the disc more prone to herniation. In other situations, a traumatic injury can cause a herniated disc. The most common injuries that cause spinal disc herniation include:
- Fall from a height
- Motor vehicle accident
- Sports-related injury
- Extreme twisting motion
- Sudden jerking movement
- Lifting a heavy object incorrectly
What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?
If you experience any of the following symptoms of a herniated spinal disc, contact a healthcare professional at Performance Health for an evaluation and recommendation for herniated disc treatment:
- Back pain, sometimes accompanied by pain in other parts of your body (arms, legs, buttocks, calves, etc.)
- Tingling that radiates from the lower back through the legs (sciatica)
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness in the arms, legs, or back
- Back pain when coughing or sneezing
- Back pain when sitting for long periods of time
How is a herniated disc diagnosed?
At Performance Health, our experienced doctors can evaluate your spinal condition and rule out or diagnose a disc herniation. Usually, a simple physical exam can determine the cause of your back pain. Sometimes, this involves a neurological exam as well, which will test your:
- Ability to walk
- Muscle strength
- Reflexes
- Sensitivity to touch
How is a herniated disc treated?
There are a number of conservative options for herniated disc treatment at Performance Health, which include:
- Physical therapy and myofascial release
- Pain management
- Sports medicine and rehabilitation
- Massage therapy
- Regenerative and alternative medicine
If you are suffering from back pain, the first step to improving your health and returning to your normal activities is to schedule an evaluation at Performance Health. Our physicians can help you get back to performance-level health. Call one of our New York offices at 212.486.8616, or fill out the form on this page to request an appointment now.