Bulging Disc & Herniated Disc Guide

What's causing my pain?

Your pain may be caused by an injury of a disc, which can cause severe pain in the back and legs. Let us explain. Intervertebral discs are spongy layers of cartilage that rest between each vertebra, and are meant to act as shock absorbers for the bones of the spine. However, as a result of the natural aging process or major back trauma, the soft jellylike nucleus of the disc can push through and cause the disc's firm outer layer to bulge out, or in extreme cases to herniate and break. The severity and direction of the bulge or herniation determine the resulting symptoms, but generally speaking, if it extends in a primarily posterior direction, it will pinch a nerve and cause discomfort in the back and potentially bodily extremities as well.

Left untreated, a herniated or bulging disc can cause tingling sensations, general numbness, a decrease in motor control in the arms or legs, and more commonly, severe pain in the back. Bulging and herniated discs in the lumbar (lower) vertebra can pinch the sciatic nerve which causes pain to radiate down through the buttocks and leg (a symptom referred to as "sciatica").

What types of treatments are right for me?

At NY Rehab we know that no two people are the same, and focus on helping each individual find a path to a pain relief life suited to his or her specific needs. Below are a few common treatments that herniated and bulging disc sufferers have traditionally used to find relief. In any treatment plan, especially those including elements of all three of the treatment methods listed below, a key advantage is that no incision, surgery, or anesthesia is necessary. Wellness is achieved through a firm and deeply-rooted understanding of the forces that make a body tick and actions that result from that knowledge.

Physical Therapy

This is the most common form of treatment for most patients, and generally involves one-on-one work with a physical therapist. The goal of the treatment is, through exercise, stretching, and proper body maintenance, to maximize restoration of movement and functional ability to parts of the body not functioning at full potential. Physical therapy at NY Rehab usually involves elements of clinical care, as well as a home fitness plan to ensure that patients are prepared to maintain their improvements. NY Rehab patients use our top-of-the-line Cybex® rehabilitation equipment during treatment sessions.

Massage Therapy

Massage has shown to be very effective in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with back pain. This treatment is a hands-on approach that targets muscle spasms and inflamed tissues and joints. Our massage therapists are trained in the most effective methods of finding and soothing sore muscles. Intensity levels during a massage may vary based on needs of patient and what is needed to effectively treat the problem.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care focuses on detecting and treating disorders, also known as subluxations, of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Doctors of Chiropractic treat bulging and herniated disc pain by administering adjustments, or gentle thrusts, to patients' spinal misalignments, allowing discs to revert to their natural dispositions, which alleviates the pressure on back nerves and remedies the pain. Most often, chiropractors deal with leg pain, hip pain, neck pain, and back pain, but do offer further expertise in dealing with a wider variety of bodily ailments.

Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression treatment is administered with the aid of specialized machines which are designed to gently remove pressure on the spine and allow herniated and bulging discs the necessary space to re-align with the spine. The treatment releases the pressure placed on nerves in the neck by the offending slipped cervical disc(s). It is painless and highly responsive to the differing body types of each patient, maximizing comfort for all those who undergo spinal decompression treatment.

Injections for Pain

Being able to simply function without pain is often extremely difficult when you suffer from back pain. Trigger point injections to specific, hard to reach parts of the back offer an effective reinforcement to chiropractic or physical therapy for back pain.

NY Rehab, Pain Management and Medical Services, P.C., offers treatment for bulging and herniated discs at our Manhattan and Astoria offices.

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