Back in the 1970s, my father injured himself at work. He was loaded into the back of his pickup truck and taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a herniated disc. Medical science didn’t know as much about the condition back then so, of course, he was taken into surgery.
Today, a herniated disc diagnosis can still send a patient into a fit of anxiety. It is just assumed that herniated discs require surgery in order to prevent further spinal damage. Surgery often means months of recovery as well. But is surgery always necessary? According to the doctors at Lone Star Pain Medicine in Weatherford, TX, no.
Herniated Disc: What It Is, And Why It Hurts
The human spine is made up of a series of bones held together with soft tissue. In between each bone is a rubbery shock-absorbing pad known as an intervertebral disc. These discs are frequently compared to jelly donuts. They are tough and rubbery, yet surprisingly flexible. This architecture of disc and bone is what makes it possible for us to move and bend in so many directions.
Each disc consists of a tough exterior surrounding a softer, gelatinous interior. A disc herniation occurs when a crack or tear develops in the outer surface, allowing the gelatinous material to bulge or leak out. This changes the actual structure of the spine to an extent that it normally causes pain. Pain is the result of one of the following two mechanisms:
- Compression – Protruding disk material compresses (or presses on) a nearby nerve. As the nerve sends pain signals to the brain, it can cause sensations that feel like electrical impulses. The pain is a lot like sciatica, except that it doesn’t travel down into the legs.
- Inflammation – Even if protruding disc material doesn’t press on a nerve, it still releases highly irritating proteins. These proteins irritate the surrounding nerves, causing inflammation and pain.
The pain from inflammation is often described as severe and throbbing. On the other hand, compression-related pain is sharper and more burning. Doctors can learn a lot about a herniated disc just by asking a patient about the pain they are feeling.
What Causes Disc Herniation
A variety of things can lead to disc herniation. The most common cause is general wear and tear. As a person ages, his spinal discs naturally lose their flexibility. That makes them more prone to injury. Other causes include:
- Acute injuries (like those sustained in car accidents)
- Poor biomechanics (like lifting with your back instead of your legs)
- Repetitive stress (as a result of sitting with poor posture)
I am not sure what happened to my father back in the seventies. I would guess he tried to lift something improperly, or he fell and hurt himself. Had he sustained the same injury today, his doctors might not have insisted on surgery.
Avoiding Surgery With Alternative Treatments
A combination of surgery and pain medications was the only treatment when my father herniated his disc. Today, things are different. In fact, the vast majority of patients treated for a disc herniation never go under the knife. Instead, there are plenty of alternative treatments.
At pain clinics like Lone Star, doctors rely on a multidisciplinary approach to relieving pain and allowing the body to heal itself. Treatment options include epidural steroid injections, regenerative medicine, and strategic physical rehab. It is a more holistic approach that can save someone the agony of having back surgery.
Do you have a herniated disc? Stay positive. Back surgery may not necessarily be in your future.