Understanding Herniated Discs: What You Need to Know

A herniated disc—sometimes called a “slipped” or “ruptured” disc—is a very common condition. Luckily not all of them needs surgery
and many more have them without symptoms.

This condition occurs when the soft inner portion of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in the tough outer layer. When this happens, it can put pressure on nearby spinal nerves, leading to symptoms like:

• Back or neck pain

• Pain radiating to the arms or legs (such as sciatica)

• Numbness or tingling in the limbs

• Muscle weakness in severe cases
  
  

Do All Herniated Discs Need Surgery?

Absolutely not. One of the most important things to understand is that less than 10% of patients with a herniated disc will ever need surgery.

In most cases, the mainstay of treatment is conservative care, which means:

• Rest and activity modification

• Physical therapy and strengthening exercises

• Pain management with medications or injections

Conservative Treatment Options

Here are some of the common treatments your healthcare provider might recommend:

1. Medications:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).

• Neuropathic pain medications like gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), or duloxetine (Cymbalta) help reduce nerve-related pain.

• Muscle relaxants may be prescribed for spasms, though they can cause drowsiness.

• Opioids are used sparingly due to risks of side effects and dependency, and only for short periods if other options are not effective.

2. Cortisone Injections: If oral medications don’t provide enough relief, your doctor may recommend a steroid injection near the affected spinal nerves to reduce inflammation and pain. These are guided by spinal imaging to ensure precision.

When Is Surgery Needed?

Surgery is only considered when conservative treatments fail and symptoms continue to impact your quality of life—or if there are signs of nerve damage. In such cases, procedures like microdiscectomy can relieve pressure on the nerves.

Why Endoscopic Spine Surgery?

If surgery becomes necessary, we now have advanced techniques that offer many benefits. Endoscopic spine surgery is a minimally invasive option that is growing in popularity around the world—and for good reason:

• Smaller incisions and less muscle disruption

• Shorter recovery time

• Reduced pain after surgery

• Faster return to daily activities

• Less risk of infection or complications

We’ve published research supporting this technique, and it’s gaining international recognition as the new standard of care. Here at Buckinghamton, we are proud to offer endoscopic spine surgery to eligible patients—and I strongly believe it’s one of the best options available today.

Personalized Care

It is always important to look at the patient as a whole person. We’ll work together to find the best treatment plan that fits your body, your symptoms, and your lifestyle.

If you’ve been diagnosed with spinal disk disease, there are many options to help you feel better - and you don’t have to go straight to surgery.