Disc Herniation Specialist

What is disc herniation?

Disc herniation occurs when too much force is put on one of the protective discs between the vertebrae in your spine.

These discs are made up of a tough outer shell and a soft, gel-like center that absorb the shocks of your movements and prevent vertebrae from rubbing together.

Over time, the structure of your discs can wear down and cause a herniation, forcing the gel-like center of the disc outward. The material can then put pressure on nearby nerves that lead to pain and other symptoms of a herniated disc.

You can also develop a disc herniation from trauma to your spine or if you have degenerative disc disease that breaks down your discs prematurely.

What are the symptoms of disc herniation?

When you have a disc herniation, you can experience back pain that worsens with your movements and grow more intense over time.

As pressure increases on the surrounding nerves, you can experience pain in the area of your spine where the disc sits that also radiates into your neck and down into your arm and hand.

For some, pain can become severe enough to interfere with your quality of life and mobility. Without treatment, a herniated disc can lead to disability.

How is a herniated disc treated?

To confirm your symptoms relate to a disc herniation, Dr. Grubb offers on-site diagnostic technologies, including X-rays.

Once he determines where the disc herniation is, Dr. Grubb may recommend non-surgical treatments, like physical therapy and chiropractic treatments, to relieve pressure on your nerves and reduce pain and inflammation.

If these treatments aren’t enough to improve your quality of life, Dr. Grubb can determine if you’re a candidate for a discectomy, a minimally invasive spine surgery. Using specialized surgical tools, he makes small incisions around the area of the damaged disc to remove part or all of the damaged disc material.

Minimally invasive surgery has fewer risks for bleeding and scarring, and the small incisions ensure you heal faster than with open surgery.

To find out if you’re a candidate for minimally invasive surgery to treat disc herniation, call Northeast Ohio Spine Center or request an appointment through the online booking system today.