Should You See a Doctor for a Herniated Disk?

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, about one in fifty adults will experience a herniated disk during his lifetime. Most people recover without needing a doctor's help. You should see a doctor for your herniated disk if the pain lasts for longer than a few weeks or if it is interfering with your ability to perform daily activities.

Facts

• Your spine consists of bones called vertebrae and the intevertebral disks between them. These flat round disks are soft and act as a cushion between vertebrae and as a shock absorber for your back. When you have a herniated disk, one of the intervertebral disks either ruptures or slips out of place. As it protrudes out from between your vertebrae, it can cause pressure on other parts of your back, including nerves. This can lead to pain and difficulty moving. Most people recover from a herniated disk without medical intervention. You should see a doctor for a herniated disk to get help with pain management, learn exercises to help prevent further problems with your back and get help with pain that refuses to fade.

Pain

• A herniated disk can cause pain in your back and neck. If it is pressing down on a nerve, you could experience pain in other parts of your body, like your arms or down the backs of your legs. The pain is usually mild and controllable with over-the-counter pain medication. If your pain is severe, you can talk to your doctor about stronger prescription pain relievers. Your doctor can also inject corticosteroid medication into your back to relieve pain and pressure.

Physical Therapy

• If you see a doctor for your herniated disk, you can ask about physical therapy exercises that you can do. These exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles that help support your back and take pressure off the damaged disk. This will help relieve some of the stiffness and pain you experience. They can also help prevent problems from occurring with your spin in the future.

Surgery

• If pain medication and physical therapy are not helping with the pain caused by your herniated disk, you should see a doctor so you can discuss more intensive treatment options like surgery. A doctor can perform a laminotomy with discectomy, in which she will remove a part of the protruding disk so it is no longer putting pressure on a nerve. Surgical treatment is most often successful when you experience lower back and leg pain because of a herniated disk.

Other

• In extreme cases, a herniated disk can press against a nerve and cause a person to lose bladder and bowel control. If you experience this or if you feel a tingling sensation in your genital area, you should see a doctor for your herniated disk immediately to avoid the possibility that permanent nerve damage will be done.