Diagnosis & Treatment
What Are the Treatments for Spinal Disc Problems?
Microsurgery
A surgeon may use a hollow needle to remove some of the soft core of a swollen disk so that it no longer puts pressure on a nerve. Other microsurgical procedures can remove fragments of core disk material that have broken through the fibrous outer wall.
Diskectomy
Diskectomy is the surgical removal of part of a herniated disk that is done to relieve pressure on the nerve. In this procedure, the core of the disk is removed, leaving the tough outer casing in place between the vertebrae.
One treatment option for temporary pain relief of a disk problem is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), in which a device applies a small electrical current to critical points along the path of a nerve. TENS is not painful and also may be effective therapy for diabetic neuropathy. However, TENS for chronic low back pain is not effective and cannot be recommended, according to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).
Another nonsurgical treatment option is acupuncture. It's not clear how acupuncture works, but some patients get significant relief.
Epidurals
Epidurals Steroid Injections (ESI) involve putting steroids and a local anesthetic into the space outside the sac of fluid around the spinal cord. The local anesthetic provides short-term relief and the steroid reduces the inflammation that occurs because of the disk herniation. This treatment option is recommended when pain persists despite painmedications, modified activity, and physical therapy.
Surgery for Spinal Disk Problems
When a herniated disk causes weakness or paralysis of the nerves that control muscles of the back and limbs, or if you lose control of yourbladder or bowels because of the damaged disk, your doctor will recommend surgery.
Surgery may also be recommended for those who have persistent symptoms lasting for t least six weeks despite conservative treatment. The decision for surgery for pain alone (absent any neurological findings) must be carefully considered, because although pain may improve in the short term, clinical studies do not support a long-term benefit.
Thanks for telling about these treatments for Spinal Disc Problems. My sister also has this problem and she has tried various treatments but nothing worked. Lately she has been getting professional acupuncture treatment at a reputed acupuncture Mississauga clinic. I hope it’ll work for her!
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