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Ruptured Disc Causes
Ruptured disc causes can vary from person to person, but the outcome is often the same: back pain, as well as numbness and weakness in the legs or, less often, the arms. These symptoms happen when a disc—the soft cushions between each vertebrae—ruptures, oozing its gel-like center into the spinal column. This substance presses on one or more nerve roots as they exit the spine, causing inflammation and irritation that can travel down the nerve and into the extremities. Sometimes, it’s simply wear and tear that causes a ruptured disc; other times, it’s an injury from sports, a car accident, or another physically traumatizing incident. No matter what the cause, if your disc injury results in notable symptoms, you’ll want to begin treating it quickly.
Some treatments your doctor may prescribe include:
- Abstaining from certain activities
- Hot and cold compresses
- Over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications
- Prescription muscle relaxers
- Steroid epidural shots
- Surgery
If your ruptured disc causes severe pain, you may need to undergo surgery. Traditional surgery, while effective, can involve a large incision, hospitalization, general anesthesia, muscle damage, and a lengthy recovery time. You could consider laser spine surgery at Laser Spine Institute as an alternative. It often provides better results and is much less invasive, so the recovery time is quicker and the risk of infection and other side effects is much lower.
If you’d like more information on ruptured disc treatment at LSI, contact us today. We’ll review your CT scan or MRI free of charge to determine if you are a good candidate for any of our procedures.