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Herniated Discs services offered in Hamilton NJ

If you struggle with numbness, tingling, or ongoing pain due to herniated discs and want relief, rely on Interventional Pain Management Associates in Hamilton, New Jersey. Double-board-certified pain management specialist Maher Ibrahim, MD, and his exceptional team can reduce your discomfort to give you a better quality of life. Call the office to book an appointment or schedule one online today.

Herniated Q & A

What are herniated discs?

Discs in your spine are jelly-like materials that cushion and separate vertebral bodies in your spine. They allow you to safely and comfortably flex, twist, and bend your spine. Sometimes, however, spinal discs can become herniated, meaning they bulge, protrude, or rupture and place pressure on nerves or your spinal cord. The result is often painful or crippling.

What are the symptoms of herniated discs?

Common symptoms of a herniated or bulging disc include:

  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Weakness
  • Burning discomfort
  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Arm or leg pain
  • Radiating pain

Your pain could be mild, moderate, or severe and debilitating, but you don’t have to live with it. Instead, see the Interventional Pain Management Associates team at the first sign of debilitating or ongoing discomfort.

What causes herniated discs?

While the cause of disc herniation isn’t always known, common reasons may include:

  • Poor posture
  • Back strain
  • Heavy lifting
  • Sports injuries
  • Car accidents
  • Work-related accidents

Risk factors for developing a herniated disc include older age, genetics, obesity, smoking, and having a physically demanding job. Ways to reduce the risk of disc herniation include getting regular exercise, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight and good posture. 

When left untreated, a herniated or bulging disc can cause narrowing of your spinal canal, sciatica, or radiculopathy (pinched nerve root in your spinal column). 

How does my provider diagnose disc herniation? 

Your pain specialist discusses your symptoms and medical history to determine if a herniated disc is the cause of your back discomfort. They complete a physical exam and often recommend blood tests, nerve tests, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or other imaging procedures to make a final diagnosis and develop an effective treatment plan. 

What is the treatment for herniated discs?

The treatment for a herniated disc depends on your circumstances and how severe your condition is. The experts at Interventional Pain Management Associates might suggest:

Home remedies

To alleviate herniated disc pain at home, you can try rest, heat or cold packs, getting light physical activity, and not smoking.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy sessions help strengthen affected tissues and reduce pressure and pain caused by disc herniation. They also reduce your risk of getting re-injured. 

Medications

Taking certain medications can diminish your discomfort or its underlying cause. The team at Interventional Pain Management Associates lets you know which medicines best match your needs.

Injections

Injections can reduce inflammation and pain caused by a herniated disc. The Interventional Pain Management Associates providers offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to stimulate your body’s natural ability to regenerate cells and heal. 

Surgery

If other treatments haven’t worked to relieve your discomfort, Interventional Pain Management Associates offers surgical procedures to repair or remove herniated discs.

If you suspect you have a herniated disc and want relief, call the Interventional Pain Management Associates office or schedule an appointment online today.