Herniated Disc Treatment in Texas
Advanced Solutions for Slipped or Ruptured Discs
A herniated disc can cause intense pain, numbness, and weakness. We offer both conservative and minimally invasive surgical options to relieve your symptoms and restore your mobility.
What is a Herniated Disc?
Your spine is made up of bones (vertebrae) separated by rubbery cushions called discs. These discs have a soft, jelly-like center (nucleus) encased in a tougher, rubbery exterior (annulus).
A herniated disc—sometimes called a slipped or ruptured disc—occurs when some of the nucleus pushes out through a tear in the annulus. This can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg.
What Causes It?
Disc herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called disc degeneration. As you age, your discs lose some of their water content, making them less flexible and more prone to tearing or rupturing with even a minor strain or twist.
Other causes and risk factors include:
- Weight: Excess body weight causes extra stress on the discs in your lower back.
- Occupation: Jobs that are physically demanding and require repetitive lifting, pulling, bending, or twisting can increase your risk.
- Genetics: Some people inherit a predisposition to developing a herniated disc.
- Smoking: It's thought that smoking lessens the oxygen supply to the disc, causing it to break down more rapidly.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
During the physical exam, your doctor will check your back for tenderness. You may be asked to lie flat and move your legs in various positions to help pinpoint the cause of your pain.
Imaging tests are often required to confirm the diagnosis and determine the exact location of the herniated disc:
- MRI: The most common and accurate imaging test used to confirm a herniated disc and see which nerves are affected.
- CT Scan: A series of X-rays from different directions that creates cross-sectional images of your spinal column.
- Myelogram: Dye is injected into the spinal fluid, and X-rays are taken to show pressure on your spinal cord or nerves.
Treatment Options
Conservative Care
Conservative treatment—mainly modifying activities to avoid movement that causes pain and taking pain medication—relieves symptoms in most people within a few days or weeks.
- Over-the-counter pain medications or prescribed muscle relaxants.
- Cortisone injections administered directly into the area around the spinal nerves to reduce inflammation.
- Physical therapy to show you positions and exercises designed to minimize the pain of a herniated disc.
Surgical & Minimally Invasive Options
If conservative treatments fail to improve your symptoms after six weeks, or if a disc fragment lodges in your spinal canal pressing on a nerve, surgery may be recommended.
Surgical options include:
- Microdiscectomy: A minimally invasive procedure to remove the protruding portion of the disc.
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): For cervical herniated discs, removing the damaged disc and fusing the vertebrae.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Dr. Bidiwala?
- Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
- Minimally Invasive Specialist
- 20+ Years Experience
- 15-year D Magazine Best Doctor
Common Symptoms
- Arm or leg pain (depending on disc location)
- Numbness or tingling in the affected area
- Weakness in the muscles served by the affected nerves
- Pain that worsens with movement or coughing
- Sciatica (shooting pain down the leg)
When to See a Specialist
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Worsening symptoms that impair your daily activities
- Bowel or bladder dysfunction (incontinence or difficulty urinating)
- Saddle anesthesia (loss of sensation in the inner thighs, back of legs, and around the rectum)
Ready to Find Relief?
Don't let spine pain control your life. Schedule a consultation to explore personalized treatment options tailored to your specific condition.