What is Herniated Nucleus Pulposus?
The spine is a complex structure that supports the body and houses the central nervous system. It consists of a chain of vertebrae, each separated by intervertebral discs that act as cushions between them. These cushions can become worn from overuse as you get older. Injury, or possibly even disease can advance degenerative spine conditions, increasing the chances of a disc bulging and eventually rupturing. If the cartilaginous outer ring ruptures, the gel-like center will leak into the spinal column, often leading to nerve compression. This is known as herniated nucleus pulposus.
A herniated nucleus pulposus is a deteriorating spine condition which can also be referred to as a ruptured disc, slipped disc, or herniated disc. It is common given the normal breakdown of the body. These discs are tasked with absorbing every impact, whether harsh or light every, through every single day of our lives. This condition can develop for a myriad of reasons — aging, acute injury, genetics, even something trivial like bad posture.
It is important to note that painful symptoms are largely absent the disc material comes into contact with the nerves at their roots in the spinal cord. This is where the discomfort and pain originates — a pinched nerve. A Spine Surgeon can diagnose your condition and discuss conservative and interventional treatment options. Depending on the site of discomfort and the longevity of your symptoms, your options for effective treatment will vary.
What Are The Symptoms?
The symptoms of herniated nucleus pulposus vary widely from patient to patient. When the damaged disc moves into the spinal canal and adds pressure to the spinal nerve roots, it sends pain radiating throughout the area and even down into the lower extremities. Other symptoms to note include tingling or numbness, muscle spasms, and varying degrees of muscle weakness.
Remember, every patient is different. Their lifestyle choices, diet, and even circumstances they can’t control may impact the severity of the symptoms and their location on the spine. Herniated nucleus pulposus is tough to diagnose at times because it does not always cause localized pain. In some cases it isn’t until the nerves are compressed that the symptoms begin to show. Once a nerve has become pinched, it’s only a matter of time until symptoms grow more severe.
How is it Diagnosed?
Because a herniated nucleus pulposus does not typically cause symptoms until there is a tear in the disc, sometimes patients seek medical help and the pain and discomfort are treated without much speculation to the actual condition or cause. With the frequency that lower back pain is diagnosed, it is no surprise that most medical providers treat the symptoms without ever rectifying the actual problem. Fortunately, an orthopedic surgeon can end this vicious cycle with an MRI and a consultation to discuss the actual diagnosis, the location of the ailment, and suitable treatment options.
It is important to leave the diagnosis to the professionals. Patients tend to misdiagnose themselves, which only complicates matters when reporting their condition to a medical professional. This can also lead to psychosomatic symptoms, which can further blur the doctor’s understanding of the actual symptoms. The quickest and most reliable way to attain an accurate diagnosis is to schedule an appointment with a spine surgeon who specializes in degenerative spine conditions.
What are the Treatment Options?
Once a patient has received the proper diagnosis, an orthopedic surgeon can suggest the best type of treatment to resolve the symptoms. Many patients can be treated with conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, an epidural injection, or a combination of the three. Other nonsurgical treatment include: stretching, hot/cold therapy, and pain medications.
However, if symptoms are not alleviated by more conservative, nonsurgical methods, a minimally invasive surgery could, in fact, resolve the issue. After an orthopedic surgeon identifies the source of discogenic pain and confers with the patient, both parties can discuss the surgery, risks, and recovery. In many cases, this is an amicable conversation because a spine surgeon has the opportunity to enlighten the patient about advancements in orthopedic surgery. Namely, the migration from open surgery to minimally invasive surgery, which benefits patients by reducing the risk of complications and eliminating the need for extensive hospitalization.
Surgically, this means a discectomy, foraminotomy, or laminectomy are most useful in the treatment of herniated nucleus pulposus. All of these surgeries can be performed by a skilled orthopedic surgeon in an outpatient setting. These three procedures are safer and more effective alternative to open back surgery. With surgery, a patient’s herniated nucleus pulposus can be resolved altogether, alleviating chronic back and neck pain entirely. Finally, relief after months or years of agony and discomfort! Orthopedic surgery has helped thousands of Americans find relief for their persistent pain and numbness. Individuals who seek long-term relief for herniated nucleus pulposus need not look any further than an orthopedic surgeon. By administering the latest, cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatments to repair or replace a damaged disc or repair other structures of the spine, patients are getting back to doing what they love — staying active.
