Herniated Disc Treatment From Orthopedic Spine Specialists in Freehold & Monroe Township, NJ

A herniated disc is a common cause of neck and back pain. A disc herniates when its firm outer border tears open, allowing some of its soft inner gel material to seep out into the spinal canal, where it may press on the spinal cord or a sensitive nerve root. While a herniated disc can result from trauma, such as a direct blow to the spine, the condition is more associated with the spinal degeneration that occurs naturally along with the aging process.

What Are the Symptoms of a Herniated Disc?

A herniated disc can cause varying degrees of discomfort – including none at all. When symptoms occur, they are often a result of spinal nerve compression. Depending on the location of the affected nerve, a herniated disc may cause:

• Neck or back pain
• Muscle weakness in an arm, hand, leg, or foot
• Numbness or tingling sensations that travel from the spine through an arm or leg
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (a rare but serious complication known as cauda equina syndrome, which warrants emergency medical attention)

How Is a Herniated Disc Treated?

Herniated disc symptoms sometimes resolve on their own or after several weeks or months of conservative treatment. Many people benefit from a combination of rest, activity modifications, physical therapy, hot/cold therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In general, spine surgery is considered only as a last resort for addressing very severe or disabling symptoms caused by a disc herniation.

At Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute, we offer both conservative and surgical herniated disc treatments ranging from physical therapy and prescription medications to corticosteroid injections and spinal decompression surgery. To help you find the right approach for you, our team will evaluate your symptoms, overall health, and imaging scans, and then fully explain your options.

To learn more about our approach to herniated disc treatment, contact AOSMI to speak with a spine specialist at our office in Freehold or Monroe Township, New Jersey.