Although you may suspect that a herniated disc is causing the pain, tingling, and weakness that you’re experiencing in your neck, back, and/or extremities, only a doctor can accurately confirm a herniated disc diagnosis. A doctor will use a variety of diagnostic methods, including a physical examination and a review of your symptoms. Be sure to accurately report the nature, location, frequency, and severity of your symptoms to your doctor.

Types of Diagnostic Imaging Tests

While a physical exam and an analysis of your medical history will help a doctor arrive at a diagnosis, medical imaging will likely be required to discover the exact level of the spine that is affected. Types of imaging tests used for a herniated disc diagnosis include:

– X-ray – A photo of internal structures, taken as radiation is being passed through the body. The X-rays are absorbed in varying degrees based on the density of anatomical elements, so bones show up as white, muscles look gray, and other tissues may appear black.

– CT scan – Short for “computed tomography,” a CT scan uses computers and X-rays to produce images of cross-sections of the body.

– MRI – Magnetic resonance imaging involves a powerful magnet and radio frequency waves that scan the body and produce a detailed image of the body’s soft tissues without the use of ionizing radiation.

Designing a Treatment Plan for a Herniated Disc

If diagnostic imaging tests confirm a herniated disc diagnosis for your doctor, there are a variety of conservative treatments that may help reduce the pain of the herniated disc until it’s able to heal on its own. Prescription or over-the-counter analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hot/cold therapy, and periods of rest may prove effective. If symptoms do not abate, or if they worsen, after several weeks or months of treatment, more targeted pain management techniques may be employed, such as epidural steroid injections, ultrasound therapy, or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).

In Conclusion

Interestingly, a patient’s medical history and physical exam will be used to actually diagnose the herniated disc, while the imaging tests (such as an MRI or CT scan) will be used to confirm the diagnosis and possibly pinpoint exactly which nerve tissue is being pinched by disc material. A CT scan and/or MRI are especially useful when the patient is considering surgery, as the scans often can show the doctor the precise location of nerve impingement.

In some cases, herniated disc pain is not caused by an impingement of the spinal cord or a nerve root. Instead, significant pain can come from the disc wall itself, which is surrounded by sensitive nerves. When a tear occurs in the disc, inflammatory agents from the center of the disc can leak out and irritate the disc wall, leading to sometimes severe pain.

If you have received a herniated disc diagnosis and are under a treatment plan that’s not working as well as you had hoped, you should get a second – or possibly even a third or a fourth – opinion. There are a variety of spine specialists you can consult regarding your neck and back pain, such as a rheumatologist, physical therapist, orthopedist, neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, neurosurgeon, or chiropractor.

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 herniated discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: Herniated disc