Neck or back pain and other herniated disc symptoms should be diagnosed by a doctor, who will almost certainly begin the diagnostic process by asking a series of questions related to the suspected condition. Knowing what is likely to be asked and having an answer ready is a good way to help your doctor reach a more accurate conclusion about the cause and origin of your neck or back pain. Before going to the doctor’s office for an examination, take a moment to jot down the answers to the following questions:

– When did the symptoms first become apparent?
– What were you doing at the moment you first became aware of the symptoms?
– Have the symptoms interfered with your physical activity, your sleep, or your work?
– Does pain seem to travel, or radiate, into your arms or legs?
– Have you experienced weakness in the arms or legs?
– Have your bowel or bladder habits changed recently?
– Is there any movement or physical activity that worsens your symptoms?
– Is there anything you do that improves your symptoms?
– Are you taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications?

These questions are only the beginning, though. Chances are, your doctor will use the answers in conjunction with a physical exam and other tests to attain a diagnosis. If it turns out that the chronic pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness are, in fact, herniated disc symptoms, the answers to these questions might also help a doctor or spine specialist formulate a treatment plan.

What Goes into that Treatment Plan?

One of the biggest factors is the location of the herniated disc. Herniated disc symptoms can originate at any level of the spine, most frequently in the lumbar (lower back) region. If a herniated disc causes nerve compression in the lower back, it can produce shooting pain within the buttocks, tingling or numbness in the legs or feet, and other symptoms that fall under the category of sciatica (symptoms produced by compression of the sciatic nerve). Someone experiencing sciatica will be treated with different methods than someone, for example, who experiences pain and other symptoms in the upper body.

Another factor is the overall health of the patient. Regardless of the location of the nerve compression, exercise and stretching are staples of a sound, conservative treatment plan for herniated disc symptoms. Someone in good physical condition generally is more capable of performing the necessary exercises.

Treatment Differs from Person to Person

Finally, a doctor might adjust a plan for treatment based on the effectiveness of the initial methods used to manage the symptoms. No two cases are alike, and no two patients will respond in exactly the same way to the standard range of conservative treatment methods. A period of trial and error may be necessary to determine the right combination of treatments. It is crucial for a patient to maintain open communication with his or her doctor in the early stages of treatment, alerting the physician to any changes in their symptoms so that the treatment plan can be adjusted accordingly.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of herniated discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: Herniated disc