Discoplasty For Herniated Disk

What is an intervertebral disc?

The discs are an integral part of the body which bifurcate and provide adequate cushion to the vertebrae and the spiral column. It gives a huge amount of flexibility to the backbone and functions like a shock absorber during the course of movements. These discs are created of the exterior rim of fibrous connective tissues and also of gelatin like inner core called as ‘nucleus puposus’. When this fibrous rim breaks the core it bulges into the spinal canal. When this scene happens, it causes extreme pains to the patients. The patient can also feel numbness or tingling, weakness, or paralysis in the area of the body enervated by those nerves.

What is the herniation of an intervertebral disc and how is it produced?

The scenario is created when there is deformity of the discs created due to the rupture of the exterior part of the disc. Due to this condition, the wall is destabilized and it creates an expansion of the nucleus which in turn pushes the disc part towards the back. The spinal nerves get damaged due to the pressing from the materials of the disc. This causes the patient to incur with cause numbness or tingling, weakness, or paralysis in the area of the body enervated by those nerves.

How the herniation of an intervertebral is produced?

This predicament is produced when there is indent increase in pressure due to the superior and inferior vertebrae. This physical condition occurs due the lifting of heavy weights, or if the patient has a sudden turn or by weakness occurred with age. Smoking and obesity are other factors that are responsible for this problem. They will produce extreme lower back pains which eventually subside towards the patient’s legs. It has been noted that 90% of these hernias are produced at low levels of lumbar segments (L4-L5 o L5-S1). Patients having cervical hernias will have their pain concentrated on their neck eventually moving towards the patient’s arm and fingers.

How is it diagnosed?

• The patient will have a clinical examination based on the characteristics of his pain.
• Apt information will be assimilated by a MRI
• Mielography
• The electrical activity in the muscle reveals nerve damage by Electromyography

What are the symptoms of a discal hernia?

This disorder’s biggest indicator is the pain which a patient suffers. The degree of pain can change with the severity of the condition.

• Ciatalgia is a condition that creates pain from the lower back, through the hip and towards the back of the leg and foot.
• Numbness of the leg.
• Loss of urinary or intestinal control.

This pain is direct proportion to the amount of pressure created by the hemiated disc on the spinal nerve. In most cases the pain worsens with physical activity but can decrease with ample rest. However coughing, sneezing, driving or flexing the spinal cord, raises the pressure of the disc towards the spinal nerve ultimately worsening the patient’s pain.

What is the treatment for a discal hernia?

In discal hernia, pain killers and anti inflammatory drugs would give relief in 2- 4 days of bed rest. A lot is dependent on the severity of the condition. If initial treatment is ineffective, than the following medical procedure have to be effectuated:

• Open surgery: The patient is under general anesthesia and the procedure induces bone resection and extraction of the nucleus pulposus. Hospitalization for several days is a must in this procedure.
• Percutaneous Nucleoplasty: If a patient is having a condition where there is no rupture in the exterior wall and the pain is only contained in the hemiated disc, then this technique is used. In this procedure the complete decompression is performed by a needle. This medical procedure is completely hassle free and has received excellent response from patients. This magnificent process can be carried out in three different ways :
  • Radio Frequency
  • Laser
  • Needle

What treatment option do you recommend and offer?

Patients not attaining relief from rest, anti inflammatory drugs and physical therapy, should get ‘Percutaneus Nucleoplasty’ as an alternative treatment. We offer Laser Nucleoplasty by means of laser thermal therapy.

What are the indications after the procedure is done?

• Patient can resume activities in a normal way
• Lifting heavy weights should be avoided for a month and after the rest time is concluded the patient should ensure enough caution for lifting too heavy weights.