Understanding Your Treatment Options for Herniated Disc Pain

The protective discs in your spine can wear out with age or rupture with a spinal injury. If you’re looking for solutions to relieve herniated disc pain, there are several treatment options to consider.

At New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine, our pain expert Jose De La Torre, MD, specializes in the ongoing management of herniated disc pain. Our team works closely with you on a treatment plan to ease your symptoms and reduce the likelihood that you’ll need surgery.

How a herniated disc develops

Between each of your spinal vertebrae are rubbery discs that absorb the shock of your movements and prevent the vertebrae from rubbing together.

The outer part of the disc is tough to withstand the pressure of spine movements. On the inside of the disc is a gel-like material. When the outer shell of a disc breaks open (herniates) from injury or aging, the gel center can push outward and press on nearby spinal nerves.

Depending on where the damaged disc sits, you can experience pain in your body. Damaged discs in your cervical (upper) spine can cause pain and numbness in your arms, shoulders, neck. Herniated discs on your lumbar (lower) spine can trigger persistent lower back pain and pain in your hips, legs, and feet.

Often, herniated disc pain can worsen with any activity, especially sudden movements like a cough, laugh, or sneeze.

Getting help for herniated disc pain

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine if you have spine-related pain that you can’t treat on your own with over-the-counter medications.

You also need an evaluation if you have back pain that continues to worsen even with rest and home care.

Our office features advanced technologies like X-rays to identify the location of a herniated disc. We also assess the function of your spine and check for bone spurs, arthritis, and other issues that can contribute to herniated disc pain.

Waiting too long to get treatment for a herniated disc can increase the likelihood you’ll need surgery. If you get the medical care you need in the earliest stages of a herniated disc, you may be able to manage your condition nonsurgically.

Therapeutic strategies for herniated disc pain relief

There are several effective treatment strategies available at our office to manage herniated disc pain, including:

Prescription medications

When over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and pain relievers aren’t working well, Dr. De La Torre can prescribe stronger ones. You may also benefit from muscle relaxers that loosen tight muscles that press on a damaged disc or spinal nerves.

Injectable therapies

If oral medications aren’t providing lasting pain relief, we can inject cortisone or an anesthetic directly into the affected area of your spine. Injections can provide pain relief for several weeks, so you can exercise at home and participate in physical therapy.

Holistic therapies

Massage therapy can be a beneficial part of your herniated disc treatment plan. This holistic therapy keeps your muscles relaxed, realigns your spine, and enhances your overall blood circulation, so your body can heal itself naturally.

Don’t delay a diagnostic evaluation for herniated disc symptoms. Call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine in Wesley Chapel, Florida, to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.