Herniated Disc

Herniated discs can come from acute back injuries or degenerative disc disease, which worsens with time. In any case, board-certified interventional pain management specialist Cyril Philip, MD, can help you manage your symptoms with individualized minimally invasive care at Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine. To book an appointment, call the office in Kenosha, Wisconsin, or schedule online today.

Herniated Disc Q & A

What is a herniated disc?

A herniated disc is an issue within the spine that often arises from disc degeneration, or degenerative disc disease. The discs in your spine are circular, cushion-like tissues resting between each of the vertebrae. They absorb shock from the spinal bones and give your spine some flexibility.

Each disc has two parts: an exterior layer called the annulus, and an inner section called the nucleus. Disc herniation happens when part of the nucleus protrudes out of the annulus through a tear in the tissue. The herniated disc can place pressure on nearby nerves and nerve roots, which can cause pain in the back or referred pain elsewhere.

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

The symptoms you experience from a herniated disc depend on the disc’s location along your spine. Any disc along your spine can become herniated, but herniated discs tend to happen in the lumbar and cervical sections of your spine more than the thoracic spine. The symptoms may include:

Cervical herniated disc symptoms

Your cervical spine is the section in your neck. A herniated disc in this area can cause pain between the shoulder blades or pain, numbness, or tingling in the upper extremities.

Lumbar herniated disc symptoms

Your lumbar spine is the section in your lower back. Lumbar herniated discs tend to cause symptoms in the buttocks and legs, like lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica). Lumbar radiculopathy is radiating pain through the buttock and down the back of your leg, usually only on one side at a time.

How can I manage pain from a herniated disc?

At Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine, Dr. Philip helps you manage pain and other symptoms of a herniated disc if they don’t go away after a few days of limited activity. He creates your treatment plan based on the location of your herniated disc and the severity and duration of your symptoms.

Dr. Philip builds your treatment plan around these minimally invasive options:

Epidural steroid injections

Epidural steroid injections involve the combination of numbing local anesthesia and an inflammation-reducing corticosteroid. Dr. Philip carefully places the injection into the epidural space around your spine near the herniated disc.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is an X-ray-guided procedure that burns a targeted nerve with radiofrequency energy. This stops it from transmitting pain signals for around 1-3 weeks.
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Your individualized treatment plan for herniated disc symptoms may also include physical therapy, medication management, and activity limitation.

If you experience symptoms of a possible herniated disc, don’t hesitate to call Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine or request an appointment online today.