Your spine is an essential part of your body that you may not think much about — until something goes wrong. Back and neck pain are common ailments that can occur for many reasons, including herniated discs.
When a disc herniates, the soft, slippery inner part of the intervertebral disc pushes out through the tough outer shell, causing nerve compression and pain. Unfortunately, herniated discs take time to heal and sometimes require surgery — but not always.
Dr. Steven J. Svabek and his team provide excellent care for orthopedic conditions such as herniated discs. Dr. Svabek is an esteemed orthopedic surgeon offering surgical and conservative treatments for back pain and herniated discs.
The spine has many components, including the bony vertebrae that give it structure and the soft, spongy intervertebral discs between each vertebra. The discs act as shock absorbers and allow you to move quickly.
Injury or degeneration may cause a disc to herniate, meaning a part of the inner disc pushes out through the rigid outer disc. When this happens, the slipped or ruptured part of the disc puts pressure on surrounding nerves, causing symptoms like:
You can have a herniated disc in any part of the spine, but it usually happens in the neck or lower back. The symptoms you experience depend on where the damaged disc is in the spine. The symptoms typically get worse when you move but resolve with rest.
The excellent news about herniated discs is that most heal within a few weeks. Up to 90% of herniated discs heal with home care only, without invasive procedures or treatments.
It typically takes several days to weeks for the injured disc to heal, as long as you take care of yourself. Less severe injuries, especially if only the back is involved, often resolve within two weeks.
Herniated discs that cause nerve symptoms in the legs, such as numbness or weakness, usually take longer to heal. It could be several months before you start to feel like yourself again.
The disc sometimes takes much longer to heal, up to a year. The better you care for your spine while healing, the quicker recovery can be.
A herniated disc is painful, but it can often be treated at home. As soon as you notice symptoms, taking time to rest is essential — but not too long.
If you have severe pain, you should take it easy and rest your back for a few days, but only lay around for three days. The longer you rest, the more stiffness and pain you may have in your back.
As soon as your pain diminishes, slowly move around and stretch if you can. Movement helps blood flow to the injury and loosens the muscles.
You can also utilize a heating pad or ice to reduce pain and inflammation around the injury. Over-the-counter medications like anti-inflammatories are also helpful in reducing inflammation and pain in your back and legs.
Many people can relieve the symptoms of a herniated disc within a few days to weeks at home. For mild to moderate cases, home treatments are typically enough to reduce pain and improve function — but that's not always the case.
Some herniated discs require more treatment, especially if you meet any of the following criteria:
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you must make an appointment with Dr. Svabek for treatment. He will carefully evaluate your symptoms and back to determine the best treatment route.
The first treatments he recommends are conservative and include physical therapy, steroid injections, and muscle relaxers — but if those aren't enough, Dr. Svabek may recommend surgery.
To find out what treatment is right for your herniated disc, call our office in Coral Springs, Florida, today or request a consultation with Dr. Svabek on our website.
