Could You Have a Disc Injury and Not Know It?

Back injuries can be tricky to diagnose. Sometimes a herniated disc causes pain in other parts of the body, or doesn’t cause any symptoms at all. Meanwhile, you’re at risk of aggravating your injury while it remains untreated.

At Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine in Meridian, Idaho, our team can trace lower back pain to an unknown injury like a herniated disc, and offer solutions such as spinal decompression therapy to give you relief.

Basics of disc injuries

Think of your spine as a stack of cylindrical bones stacked on top of each other in a column. Between the bones are discs made of cartilage filled with a springy, gel-like material that lets your spine bend, twist, and compress.

When a disc suffers damage, the gel inside can bulge outward. Since the main components of your nervous system run down the length of your spinal column, it’s easy for a herniated disc to hit a nerve and send pain radiating into an arm or leg.

Discs that are seriously injured can be squashed almost flat or deteriorate to the point that they nearly disappear. That can cause the bones of your spine to grind together, or even trap nerves between them.

This type of nerve compression can cause numbness, tingling, pain, and burning sensations, or even affect your ability to control your bladder or bowels. Through it all, if your back doesn’t hurt, you may remain unaware you have a spinal injury at all. 

Getting the right diagnosis

To get the right treatment, you need an accurate diagnosis. If you have little or no back pain, have had your back pain dismissed as a muscle spasm, or experience symptoms in your arms, hands, legs, or feet, it’s time to see a spinal specialist. 

At Advantage Spinal Dynamics, we don’t assume that pain in a leg must originate in the leg, or that tingling and numbness in your hands have anything to do with your hands. 

We check your spine as a matter of course, as the nerves around your spine can provide red flags that show up in other parts of your body.

Treatment for herniated discs

Around 9 in 10 people don’t need surgery for a herniated disc. Instead, rest, medication, and less-invasive interventions can restore mobility and range of movement, as well as dispel symptoms. 

Spinal decompression therapy is a nonsurgical way to take pressure off a herniated disc and relieve symptoms. This therapy uses gentle traction to lengthen your spine, providing almost immediate relief for pinched or compressed nerves, and can be repeated as needed.

To learn more about disc injuries and treatment options, schedule a consultation at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine by calling 208-213-7963, or request an appointment online today.