Herniated Disk

A herniated disc, sometimes called a slipped disc, can lead to numbness, sciatica, chronic pain, and other debilitating symptoms. Dr. Max Steuer, MD, and Carter Cooper, PAC, use conservative therapies to relieve herniated disc pain and restore function and mobility. At the office in Atlanta, Georgia, the skilled experts can help you get back to the life you love. To schedule an evaluation, call today.

What is a herniated disc?

Spinal discs are the soft tissue structures between each vertebra in your spine. Discs have a durable, fibrous outer ring called the annulus and a gel-like interior center called the nucleus.

Sometimes the inner nucleus becomes displaced, and the outer annulus deteriorates or becomes damaged, moving the nucleus outward from the center of the disc. This is known as a herniated disc.

A herniated disc can create pressure on spinal nerves, causing pain and other symptoms. They can occur in any part of the spine but are most common in the neck and lower back.

What causes a herniated disc?

Age is the primary reason the disc annulus weakens, allowing the nucleus to become herniated. Additional factors that contribute to the condition include:

• Degenerative disc disease

• Spinal injuries

• Improper lifting

• Repetitive strenuous activities

If you smoke or carry excess weight, you have an increased risk of developing a herniated disc. 

Disc herniation is most often the result of gradual wear-and-tear called disc degeneration. As people age, the discs become more prone to rupturing and tearing with even a minor twist or strain.

However, most people cannot pinpoint the exact cause of their herniated disc.

What symptoms commonly occur with a herniated disc?

A herniated disc may cause the following symptoms:

• Back and neck pain

• Shoulder pain

• Hip pain

• Radiating pain

• Tingling or numbness

• Muscle spasm

• Muscle weakness

A herniated disc is one of the most common causes of sciatica, a condition that involves the compression of the large sciatic nerve that emerges from the hip and runs down the back of the leg.

Which treatments can address a herniated disc?

Dr. Steuer takes a conservative approach to your treatment. Depending on the cause of the condition, your personalized treatment plan may include the following:

• Physical therapy

• Aquatic therapy

• Traction

• Facet joint injections

• Epidural steroid injections

If a nonsurgical approach doesn't resolve your pain, you might need surgery to correct your herniated disc.  Dr. Steuer, performs minimally invasive spine surgery because it offers reduced scarring, less pain, and shorter recovery times than traditional surgery.

For safe, effective treatment that relieves the pain of a herniated disc, schedule a consultation with Max Steuer, MD. Call today.