This will involve checking your nerve function and muscle strength, and whether you feel pain when moving or touching the affected area. Your doctor also will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms. They will be interested in when you first felt symptoms and what activities cause your pain to worsen.
Imaging tests can help your doctor view the bones and muscles of your spine and identify any damaged areas. Examples of imaging scans include:. Your doctor can combine all these pieces of information to determine what is causing your pain, weakness, or discomfort. An untreated, severe slipped disc can lead to permanent nerve damage. In very rare cases, a slipped disc can cut off nerve impulses to the cauda equina nerves in your lower back and legs.
If this occurs, you may lose bowel or bladder control. Another long-term complication is known as saddle anesthesia. In this case, the slipped disc compresses nerves and causes you to lose sensation in your inner thighs, the back of your legs, and around your rectum.
While the symptoms of a slipped disc may improve, they also can worsen. Treatments for a slipped disc range from conservative to surgical. Most people can relieve slipped disc pain using an exercise program that stretches and strengthens the back and surrounding muscles. A physical therapist may recommend exercises that can strengthen your back while reducing your pain.
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and avoiding heavy lifting and painful positions can also help. Shop for OTC pain relievers now. Instead, try to remain as active as possible through stretching or low-impact activities such as walking. If your slipped disc pain does not respond to over-the-counter treatments, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications.
These include:. Your doctor may recommend surgery if your symptoms do not subside in six weeks or if your slipped disc is affecting your muscle function. Your surgeon may remove the damaged or protruding portion of the disc without removing the entire disc. This is called a microdiskectomy. In more severe cases, your doctor may replace the disc with an artificial one or remove the disc and fuse your vertebrae together. Based on the results, you may be referred to a neurologist, orthopedist, or neurosurgeon for treatment.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI scan is a noninvasive test that uses a magnetic field and radiofrequency waves to give a detailed view of the soft tissues of your spine. Unlike an X-ray, nerves and discs are clearly visible Fig. It may or may not be performed with a dye contrast agent injected into your bloodstream.
An MRI can detect which disc is damaged and if there is any nerve compression. It can also detect bony overgrowth, spinal cord tumors, or abscesses.
Myelogram is a specialized X-ray where dye is injected into the spinal canal through a spinal tap. An X-ray fluoroscope then records the images formed by the dye. The dye used in a myelogram shows up white on the X-ray, allowing the doctor to view the spinal cord and canal in detail. Myelograms can show a nerve being pinched by a herniated disc, bony overgrowth, spinal cord tumors, and abscesses. A CT scan may follow this test. Computed Tomography CT scan is a noninvasive test that uses an X-ray beam and a computer to make 2-dimensional images of your spine.
This test is especially useful for confirming which disc is damaged. EMG tests measure the electrical activity of your muscles. Small needles are placed in your muscles, and the results are recorded on a special machine.
NCS is similar, but it measures how well your nerves pass an electrical signal from one end of the nerve to another. These tests can detect nerve damage and muscle weakness. X-rays view the bony vertebrae in your spine and can tell your doctor if any of them are too close together or whether you have arthritic changes, bone spurs, or fractures. It's not possible to diagnose a herniated disc with this test alone. Conservative nonsurgical treatment is the first step to recovery and may include medication, rest, physical therapy, home exercises, hydrotherapy, epidural steroid injections ESI , chiropractic manipulation, and pain management.
Self care : In most cases, the pain from a herniated disc will get better within a couple days and completely resolve in 4 to 6 weeks. Medication : Your doctor may prescribe pain relievers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications NSAIDs , muscle relaxants, and steroids. Steroid injections : The procedure is performed under x-ray fluoroscopy and involves an injection of corticosteroids and a numbing agent into the epidural space of the spine.
The medicine is delivered next to the painful area to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the nerves Fig. Repeat injections may be given to achieve the full effect. Duration of pain relief varies, lasting for weeks or years.
It usually gets better slowly with rest, gentle exercise and painkillers. Not all slipped discs cause symptoms. Many people will never know they have slipped a disc. Sometimes the pain may be a result of an injury such as a sprain or strain , but often there's no obvious reason. Back pain is rarely caused by anything serious. If the pain is very bad, you may need to rest at first. But start gentle exercise as soon as you can — it'll help you get better faster.
The type of exercise is not important, just gradually increase your activity level. Alternate painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Herniated disc. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Accessed Aug. Herniated disc. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Levin K, et al. Acute lumbosacral radiculopathy: Treatment and prognosis.
Herniated disk. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Herniated disk in the lower back.
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