Get help for back pain with The CORE Institute

· Did you know that it is normal to have an extra vertebra in the lower back? 
· By the age of 60, most people will experience at least one episode of significant back pain at some point of their life. 
· Degenerative disc disease can be hereditary.

Q & A

Q: What are the treatment options for a herniated disc in the neck?
A: Cervical disc herniations can be caused by something as complex as trauma or as simple as a sneeze. Symptoms may be numbness, tingling or pain down one or both of the arms. More severe cases can be associated with weakness as well. These symptoms are called radiculopathy and are consistent with pressure on the nerve root. However, if the herniation is exerting significant pressure on the spinal cord itself, it can lead to clumsiness in the hands, difficulty with balance or even weakness in the lower extremities. These symptoms are called myelopathy and need to be addressed immediately. The goal of treatment is to preserve function and help ease the patients’ pain.

In cases of radiculopathy, unless the patient has profound weakness, the initial treatment consists of physical therapy and medications. Narcotic medication is usually not very effective. Anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen and muscle relaxants usually work well. If the patients’ symptoms do not get better with the above, the next step is usually epidural steroid injections, similar to those that a pregnant patient is given at time of delivery. These injections are usually done under x-ray guidance by a specially trained physician, such as a pain management or interventional spine specialist. If the patient fails conservative treatment and continues to have significant symptoms, then surgery may be considered. There are a number of surgical options such as a fusion, disc herniation removal or artificial disc replacement. Cervical Myelopathy is commonly treated with surgery.

Cervical disc herniations can be a very serious condition. Please consult a physician if you suspect this condition or have concerns about the symptoms described in this article.

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/lifestyle/sonoran_living/sl_sponsors/get-help-for-back-pain-with-the-core-institute#ixzz1eNTprPAP