Spinal issues are painful and sometimes, they may make a person disable as he/she won’t be able to perform even routine activities. One of the most painful spinal problems is a herniated disc where the inner material of the rubbery discs present between vertebrae comes out. This condition could occur anywhere in the vertebrae and irritate the nearby nerve. Depending upon the location, a herniated disc could result in pain, weakness, or numbness in a leg or arm.
Surgery is not generally required to fix the condition but when it does, the use of Orthopedic Implant Plates and Screws might also be there. Siora Surgicals Pvt. Ltd. is one of the best Orthopedic Implants Manufacturers in India that offers all types of trauma implants.
What Can Cause Herniated Disc?
There are a few factors that could cause herniated disc including:
Age
Age is one of the most common causes of a herniated disc as with age, the fluid volume of spinal discs is lost gradually and naturally, resulting in disc problems. This condition is known as degenerative disc disease. The gradual wearing of discs results in cracks or tears and that makes way for the jelly-like center.
Trauma
Another cause of herniated disc is trauma, and that could occur due to stress on the spine. This condition could occur when you lift a heavy object or somehow twist the spine. A herniated disc can also occur due to high-impact trauma like an accident. In such conditions, disc(s) can get ruptured causing the inner material of the discs to protrude.
What Are the Symptoms of Herniated Disc?
Maximum cases of herniated discs occur in the lower back while, in some cases, it could also occur in the neck. The symptoms seen will be based on the location and severity of the condition. Some of the common symptoms noticed may include:
Pain in an arm or leg
Pain in the hips, calf, & thigh is common if the herniated disc has occurred in the lower back. Besides this, pain in the foot could also be experienced. While on the other hand, if the condition occurs in the neck, pain in the shoulder and arm is noticed.
Numbness or tingling feeling
Herniated disc affects the nearby nerve and that results in tingling or numbness in the area served by that nerve.
Weakness
Weakness is another symptom noticed in the case of the herniated disc and that is seen in the muscles that are served by the affected nerve. With weak muscles, you might not be able to lift or hold objects properly.
How is Herniated Disc Diagnosed?
Lower back pain along with leg pain is a sign of a herniated disc and this is what the doctor will check during the diagnosis of the condition at first. The diagnosis of the condition will be done by an orthopedist or even a general physician. Besides this, a straight leg raise test is also performed to confirm the condition. While doing the test, the doctor will ask for numbness, pain, and weakness in the leg for a better diagnosis. After this, certain imaging tests like x-ray, MRI, or CT scan and nerve tests like EMG (electromyogram), or NCS (nerve conduction studies) might also be performed.
What is the Treatment for Herniated Disc?
Avoiding activities that result in pain is something that is suggested by the doctor at first. Besides this, medications are also prescribed to relieve painful symptoms. Medications may include:
Over-the-counter medicines
Pain-relieving medicines are prescribed in case of mild to moderate pain.
Cortisone injections
When oral medicines fail to provide any relief, cortisone injections are used to relieve pain. This injection is applied around the spinal nerves using spinal imaging to guide the needle correctly.
Muscle relaxants
Muscle relaxants are prescribed in case of muscle spasms, dizziness, and sedation.
Opioids
Short-term use of opioids may be suggested by the doctor if other pain medications fail to provide any relief. Opioids are not commonly prescribed considering their side effects and potential for addiction.
Besides medication, physical therapy might also be recommended to relieve pain, and it is found to be very effective as well. Though rare, surgery may also be required by some people to treat a herniated disc. Surgery is often prescribed when conventional methods fail to show any improvement after around 6 weeks of treatment. In certain surgical procedures, the use of orthopedic plates and screws might also be there.
Siora Surgicals Pvt. Ltd. is a reliable manufacturer of international standard quality orthopedic devices that are made in conformance with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016. The company has a strong global presence and hence is also considered one of the best Ortho Surgical Companies in Malaysia.