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How to Treat a Prolapsed Disc

If you are wondering how to treat a prolapsed disc after your doctor determines this condition is behind your chronic back and/or neck pain, you'll be relieved to find out that a regimen of conservative treatment options is typically very effective in managing symptoms. Your doctor will most likely suggest you begin a treatment program consisting of light exercise, physical therapy, hot/cold therapy, pain medications, or any of a variety of other conservative, nonsurgical options. While these are often effective, it pays to learn more about this condition before beginning your treatment.

What is a Prolapsed Disc Anyway?

You may have heard it referred to as a herniated or "slipped" disc, but a prolapsed disc is the condition when the gel-like inner material of an intervertebral disc in your spine pushes through an opening in the thick outer wall and into the spinal canal. This form of degenerative disc disease is most often attributed to nothing more than the natural aging process. Over time, your discs lose water content and can become thin and brittle, sometimes to the point where a herniation occurs.

What are the Symptoms?

If you are wondering how to treat a prolapsed disc, you likely are already suffering from some of the symptoms of this condition, which can include localized pain, pain that travels the length of a nerve, weakness, tingling, and numbness. However, you may be interested to learn that it is not actually the prolapsed disc itself causing your problems. It is when the inner disc material that has pushed into the spinal canal presses on a nearby nerve that symptoms arise. It is this nerve compression, not the herniated disc itself, which causes your pain and other symptoms.

Alternative Treatment Options

Now you know the causes and symptoms of a prolapsed disc, but what if the treatment options discussed above fail to bring you pain relief? These conservative measures simply don't work for some individuals, who instead turn to surgical procedures as a last resort. If this describes your situation, contact Laser Spine Institute today to learn more about our safe, effective endoscopic procedures that are minimally invasive alternatives to?open back and neck?surgery. These state-of-the-art procedures can help you rediscover your life without back and neck pain.

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