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Herniated Disc Treatment in Morgantown, West Virginia

Oct 12, 2016

Herniated Discs

Have you been experiencing pain in your arms or legs? Any numbness, tingling or muscle weakness? You might be experiencing symptoms of a herniated disc in your spine.

Some people don’t experience any symptoms at all, or many describe the symptoms as quite painful. Most herniated discs occur in the lower back (lumbar), but it can also occur in the neck (cervical). 


What is a Herniated Disc?

Discs are the rubbery cushions that are located in between the vertebrae that make up your spine. A herniated disc can be comparable to jelly filed doughnuts. Our discs have a tough but elastic outer layer (annulus) like the outer portion of the doughnut. But, when they rupture, it allows the inner “jelly” like portion (nucleus pulpous) to spill out.

When the nucleus pulpous is spilled into the wrong places within the spine, it can press on, or irritate a spinal nerve. If this occurs, it causes severe nerve pain that usually radiates down the leg. This is called sciatica or radicular pain.

It is proven, 80-90 percent of people with a herniated disc will become pain free within as little as 6 to 10 weeks.

A herniated disc can be caused by the normal wear and tear due to gradual aging.


Conservative Herniated Disc Treatment

  • Anti-inflammatory medicine
  • Steroids and/or non-steroidal (nsaid’s)
  • Physical therapy (or chiropractic)
  • Epidural steroid injections are some of the treatment options effective for a herniated disc.

Surgery for Herniated Discs (Microdiscectomy)

Typically, 10-20 percent of people with herniated discs require surgery. Surgery is found to typically be effective in patients who experience sciatica or pain in the leg. If a patient experiences pain only in the back, they may not be an ideal candidate for surgery.

Surgery has a 90 percent success rate regardless of whether the surgery is done a week or six months after symptoms begin. 

Risks of surgery include:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Nerve injury
  • Blood clot
  • Persistent pain and re-rupture

The procedure is performed through a 1.5 to 2-inch incision, using magnification and lasts about 45 to 60 minutes. During surgery, only the piece of disc that’s out of place and pressing on to the spinal nerve is removed. This procedure is call a Microdiscectomy.

Microdiscectomy is an outpatient minimally invasive spine surgery. Typically, patients can return to non-physical work in 10 to 14 days and resume heavy labor after two months.


Mountainstate Orthopedic Associates

If you think you have a herniated disc, treatment options in Morgantown can be discussed at Mountainstate Orthopedic Associates.

MOA has been providing quality care to its patients since 1977.  Give us a call at 304-599-0720 to make an appointment today.  No referral necessary.

Categories: Spine Surgery