Ouch!

Experiencing back pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness in your back? These symptoms are normally associated with a herniated disc or a rupture of a spinal disc. When the disc bursts, a small part of it is pushed outside of its normal boundary, causing the spinal nerves and spinal cord to be pinched. Depending on the severity, over time this pinching can spread pain to the shoulders, legs then into your feet, and arms then into your fingers.

A herniated disc is one of the most common injuries related to the spine. It can occur at any level of the spine, but is mostly found in the lumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck) areas. This injury is regularly seen in people during their 30’s and 40’s because the disc becomes soft and weakens making it easier to tear through the nerves. However, athletes that experience abrupt injuries may incur this specific injury as well. The spine specialists at Northern Arizona Orthopaedics will exhaust conservative treatments, but if the symptoms persist, more aggressive treatment options are considered. Below are some nonsurgical options:

• Rest and Activity Modification
• Ice and Heat Applications
• Physical Therapy
• Ant-Inflammatory Medications
• Epidural Steroid Injections

To schedule an appointment with a specialist at Northern Arizona Orthopaedics, please call
(877) 259-4433. Learn more about our board-certified specialists by clicking here.