Herniated Discs Specialist

Innovative Pain Solutions Centers

Pain Management located in Bowie, MD, Laurel, MD, & Salisbury, MD

When you have a herniated disc, it can cause a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms, including numbness or radiating pain in your arms or legs. At Innovative Pain Solutions Centers, Joseph Oppong, Jr., MD, brings the latest treatments available for conditions like herniated discs to three convenient Maryland locations. To schedule an appointment in Bowie or Salisbury, call Innovative Pain Solutions Centers or book online today.

Herniated Discs Q & A

What is a herniated disc?

A herniated disc affects the rubbery cushion in-between your vertebrae. Each of your discs acts as a shock absorber in your spine and give it flexibility. If one of these rubbery cushions gets damaged, it can bulge or break open. When this happens, it’s called a herniated, slipped, or ruptured disc.

Any of your discs can herniate, but they’re most common in your neck and lower back.

What causes a herniated disc?

You can develop a herniated disc for several reasons, but they’re usually the result of aging or injury.

As you age, your discs begin to lose their flexibility and wear out. When this happens, they’re more vulnerable to damage.

You can also herniate a disc during physical activities that involve bending, twisting, and strain. These movements can cause the hard outer layer of your disc to break which allows the softer center to bulge out.

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

Not all herniated discs cause symptoms, or you may only have mild complaints. When more intense symptoms do occur, it’s usually because they apply pressure to nerve roots in the area. If this happens, it’s common to experience symptoms like pain, weakness, and numbness that runs along the affected nerve, like you see with sciatica.

The symptoms of a herniated disc can also vary depending on which part of your spine is involved. For example, a herniated disc in your neck usually causes problems in your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. A herniated disc in your lower spine, however, typically causes radiating pain down your leg.

No matter which part of your back is involved, specific actions, like coughing or sneezing, can increase your pain. Without treatment, a herniated disc can cause other back problems, like spinal stenosis.