Slipped Disc Diagnosis & Back Pain Managment Doctors NYC
The specialist doctors of Manhattan Pain and Sports Associates are leaders at diagnosing and treating slipped disc back pain. A slipped disc (medically referred to as “spondylolisthesis”) occurs when one of the bones in your back, called a vertebra, slides out of place and forward from its natural position. Essentially, a slipped disc is a treatable medical spinal condition.
Some people don’t even realize that they have a slipped disc, while others experience intense pain. And that pain can vary greatly too, from mildly annoying to severe, radiating down your leg and across your back. In NYC and across America, about two to four percent of the population suffer from a slipped disc, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
The Main Causes of A Slipped Disc:
- Spondylolytic spondylolisthesis: This is a condition more common in men and mostly started when they were teenagers. The small fracture from an accident that occurred in adolescence doesn’t give you any problems until you reach middle age, when your disc degeneration begins. Back pain associated with certain sports or other physical activity drives men to a pain management doctor where X-rays reveal the fracture.
- Degenerative spondylolisthesis: As you age, the discs in your back wear out and dry up, making them much more vulnerable to slippage. When the disc slips out of place, your spine tends to get narrower, placing pressure on the nerves, resulting in pain. A slipped disc due to age occurs mostly in women over the age of 50 who may seek help from a pain management specialist to treat lower back pain.
Finding the Source
Your pain management doctor will first gives you a physical exam, pressing on different spots on your back to locate the source of your slipped disc pain. Following a detailed medical history and a description of your symptoms, X-rays taken while you bend forward can confirm whether or not you have a slipped disc.
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test can help your doctor discover the extent of the pressure on your soft tissue and nerves. These diagnostic procedures help your doctor determine your follow-up treatments and surgical options.
Living with the Slipped Disc Pain
Physical therapy, medication prescribed by your NYC pain management doctor and possibly epidural steroid injections can help relieve the pain associated with a slipped disc, but it won’t repair the damage. If you experience relief after three to six months of non-invasive, conservative treatments, you may be able to dodge surgery.
In the minority of cases when a slipped disc impairs your quality of life to the extent that you have difficulty moving, surgery may be your best option. Surgery involves removing the disc that’s pressing on your nerves to relieve the pain and then fusing the remaining vertebrae together. Spinal fusion is recommended to relieve both kinds of spondylolisthesis. Rest and physical therapy will get you back into your normal routines, finally free from pain.
Get the Slipped Disc Medical Pain Relief You Need
At Manhattan Pain and Sports Associates ,you’ll get the slipped disc back pain management and care you need to reduce or eliminate your slipped disc pain. Because when you’re in pain — whether it’s from an accident, age or ailment — you want relief. And appropriate and targeted slipped disc pain treatment starts with a proper doctor’s diagnosis.
Your NYC slipped disc pain management doctor’s goal is to get you back to your normal routine with minimal downtime. After your diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor begins your treatment plan with the most conservative pain relief treatment. You’ll always receive non-invasive pain relief before your doctor turns to more invasive procedures like surgery.
Manhattan Pain and Sports Associates
51 East 25th St, 4th Floor, Ste B
New York, NY 10010
(212) 533-3954
