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• Herniated Disc

What is a Herniated Disc?

What is a herniated disc? A patient with back pain, reduced mobility, and numbness might ask this question. Simply put, a herniated disc is a break in one of the spine’s shock absorbing pads that creates pain and other symptoms by putting pressure on nerve roots.

Herniated Disc Specifics

The spine consists of bony vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which are tough fibrous pads located between the vertebrae, which allow the vertebrae to move and compress without touching each other. As a result of aging or injury, these discs become weaker and their outer surfaces are more prone to bulge due to the pressure exerted by the gelatinous fluid inside the disc. Eventually, this pressure can cause the weakened wall of the disc to split or tear, allowing the fluid to leak into the nooks and crannies of the spine. Such leakage places pressure on the spinal cord and/or the nerve roots that exit the spinal column and can lead to symptoms such as pain, numbness, loss of mobility, and tingling. The tearing of the disc wall is called a herniated disc—also known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc.

Treatment Options

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Disc degeneration, one of the main contributing factors in the development of a herniated disc, is a fact of life. One’s susceptibility to this condition can also be affected by obesity or smoking; people who do a great deal of lifting, twisting, or bending also run a higher risk of herniating a disc. Once a diagnosis of such is complete, doctors may prescribe pain medication, heat or cold packs, and lifestyle or activity alterations, and many patients respond well after implementing such conservative treatment plans.

Some people, though, must consider surgery to correct severe or debilitating pain resulting from a herniated disc. This is where Laser Spine Institute (LSI) comes in. We have an award-winning staff of spinal surgeons who are experts in the revolutionary field of endoscopic laser-assisted spine procedures. We offer a range of outpatient procedures intended to treat spine problems without the risks and drawbacks of less reliable open back surgery. For more information or to set up a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact LSI today.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.