What are the consequences of not treating a herniated disc? Herniated discs are serious health problems. Because you're dealing with a spinal injury, you could be at risk for permanent paralysis or long-term chronic pain if you leave your herniated disc untreated.
Cervical disc herniation is a common cause of neck pain in adults. The severity of the disease can range from mild to severe, and even life-threatening.
In worst-case scenarios, patients can lose feeling in their nerves permanently. This normally leads to what is referred to as saddle anesthesia. It can also lead to loss of control over bowel movements and bladder. In cases where a herniated disc has been untreated for too long, this type of damage can be permanent.
The most serious complication from a thoracic herniated disc is the development of complete paralysis below the waist. This results when a fragment of disc material is ruptured into the spinal canal. Pressure on the spinal cord causes permanent damage to the nerves traveling to the lower body and legs.
In severe cases, people with a herniated disc may require surgery if more conservative treatments fail to improve their symptoms. If allowed to go untreated, a herniated disc can worsen over time, leading to chronic pain and discomfort.
C5-C6 disc bulging can be a painful and debilitating condition affecting the quality of life. Traditional medical treatment may involve medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
When a Cervical Herniated Disc Is Serious. Rarely, a cervical herniated disc's signs and symptoms may gradually feel worse rather than eventually stabilizing and resolving on its own. If a cervical nerve root remains pinched or inflamed, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness may progress in the arm.
However, progressive arm or leg numbness and weakness, problems walking, loss of bowel or bladder function are considered medical emergencies and you should call your physician or go to a hospital immediately.
Bulging Disc Surgery may be required once the symptoms caused by a bulging disc have become chronic or severe. The Bonati Spine Procedures utilize patented instruments and techniques to treat chronic pain caused by bulging discs.
A herniated disk is also known as a slipped, ruptured or bulging disk. It's one of the most common causes of neck, back and leg pain. Most of the time, herniated disks heal on their own or with simple home-care measures.
Discs that become herniated usually are in an early stage of degeneration. The spinal canal has limited space, which is inadequate for the spinal nerve and the displaced herniated disc fragment. Due to this displacement, the disc presses on spinal nerves, often producing pain, which may be severe.
If you are living with any of these musculoskeletal conditions you may be eligible for PIP. Musculoskeletal conditions are injuries and disorders that affect the human body's movement or musculoskeletal system such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs and blood vessels.
If you still have pain or numbness after four to six weeks, or if your problem gets worse, talk with your doctor. Sometimes it takes surgery to relieve pain. If you have trouble going to the bathroom or have weight loss, pain at night, or more pain or weakness than usual in backbone, tell your doctor right away.
In more serious cases, treatment could involve receiving steroidal injections to reduce pain and inflammation. The most serious cases can require cervical spine surgery. This will involve removing some or all of the disc.
If your disc-related symptoms are debilitating and consistent, seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Unless your symptoms are immediately severe or potentially life-threatening, you will likely be advised to try nonsurgical treatments for several months.
Most patients, up to 90%, get better without the need for surgery within a time frame of six to twelve weeks after the herniated cervical disc symptoms (neck pain with arm pain, numbness, tingling and weakness) have developed.
If you suspect you have a herniated disk or your doctor has confirmed this diagnosis, there are a few things you should avoid. Avoid lifting heavy objects or bending at the waist at any time. Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes. They put pressure on your lower back and send your spine out of alignment.
Surgeons usually perform diskectomy using general anesthesia, so you're not awake during the procedure. Ideally, just the piece of disk that's compressing the nerve is removed. However, small amounts of spinal bone and ligament might need to be removed to get to the herniated disk.
Recovery after lumbar decompression surgery will depend on your fitness and level of activity prior to surgery. This is why a course of physiotherapy before the operation may be recommended. You'll be encouraged to walk and move around the day after surgery and it's likely you'll be discharged 1 to 4 days afterwards.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
pain, tingling, weakness or numbness in both legs. numbness or tingling around your genitals or buttocks. difficulty peeing. loss of bladder or bowel control (peeing or pooing yourself)
Pain when moving your neck or deep pain near or over the shoulder blade. You may also feel pain that moves to the upper arm, forearm, and fingers and numbness along your shoulder, elbow, forearm, and fingers. These are common symptoms when you have a slipped disc in your neck.
For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm. This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling.
Neck or arm pain, numbness or tingling may result when the disc material touches or compresses a spinal nerve. Treatment with rest, pain medication, spinal injections, and physical therapy is the first step to recovery. Most people improve in 6 weeks and return to normal activity.