Spinal column pain

Pain in the spinal column can be debilitating, making it hard to complete your daily activities and even restricting you from getting to work each day.

Pain in the spinal column can be caused by a number of different factors, including degenerative disc disease, an annular tear, a herniated disc, or another spine condition.

Degenerative disc disease

Many people experience degenerative disc disease as they grow older. Degenerative disc disease is a condition caused by the weakening of the discs that cushion the spine. As we age, these discs lose water and protein content and can become brittle. This can cause what is known as an annular tear in the tough, fibrous outer shells of the discs. When an annular tear occurs, the gel-like nucleus material of the disc can seep through the tear, entering the spinal canal and resulting in a herniated disc.

Symptoms of a herniated disc

A herniated disc is an interesting condition because it is not necessarily symptomatic. In fact, many people live their lives without ever knowing they have herniated discs. However, at times, this condition can cause significant spinal column pain if the herniated disc material seeps into the spinal canal and comes into contact with a nerve, nerve root or the spinal cord itself.

Depending on the specific nerve that is compressed, a number of symptoms can be present with a herniated disc, including:

  • Local pain
  • Traveling pain
  • Unexpected muscle weakness
  • Soreness or stiffness
  • Fatigue
  • Numbness and tingling
  • A feeling of pins and needles

If you are experiencing chronic pain in the spine, a herniated disc might be to blame. However, only a primary care doctor or spine specialist can accurately diagnose your spine condition. If your doctor does recommend treatment for herniated disc, conservative techniques and (more rarely) surgical options are available to help you find relief.

Treatment for chronic neck and back pain

In order to effectively treat a herniated disc, it is important to visit a physician to determine the cause, severity and location of the problem. Once the diagnosis is complete, your physician will likely recommend any of a number of conservative, non-invasive treatments. Pain medications, low-impact exercises and the application of heat are particularly effective.

However, if you have tried these types of conservative therapies for several months or longer and are still experiencing pain in the spinal column, we invite you to learn about the advanced techniques offered at Laser Spine Institute.

Minimally invasive spine surgery

The surgeons at Laser Spine Institute specialize exclusively in relieving neck and back pain with minimally invasive, outpatient spine surgery. This type of surgery is a safer and effective alternative to traditional, open neck and back surgery, offering you a number of benefits. Some of the many benefits of minimally invasive surgery include being performed with a small incision, no lengthy recovery,^ and a reduced risk of infection compared to traditional spine surgery.

We offer minimally invasive decompression and stabilization surgery to help relieve pain in the spinal column. In the example of a herniated disc, a decompression surgery would remove a small portion of the damaged disc while a stabilization surgery would replace it with an artificial disc. The type of surgery recommended to you will be based on your condition, the severity of your condition and your medical history.

Find relief from chronic pain

Please call a member of our Care Team today to learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery and to find out if you are a candidate for treatment at our outpatient surgery center. With a 96 patient satisfaction rate, our goal is to always provide you with the highest levels of care and comfort.