How Do I Know if I Have a Disc Tear?
Symptoms of a torn vertebrae or disc tear include localized pain in the area of the damaged disc. You may also experience pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of reflexes in the affected extremities. If you suffer from a torn disc in your neck, you will feel symptoms in your shoulder and arm. In contrast, if your tear is in the lower back, symptoms will manifest in your lower extremities. As the condition of the torn disc in the back advances, symptoms will worsen, eventually leading to the full range of symptoms associated with a herniated disc.
Do you have any of these symptoms and think you may be suffering from a tear in your spine or a torn herniated disc? We have a quick and easy tool to help gather some information from you to help us determine the problem and get you on the road to recovery.
What Type of Treatment is Used for Disc Tears?
Treatment of a tear in the lumbar disc or any torn disc generally involves rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and heat and ice therapy. If allowed to progress, the condition may require physical therapy to be brought under control. Surgery should only be considered once all conservative treatments have been exhausted.
Orthopedic and Laser Spine Surgery provides a wide range of treatment options for a torn disc. Our spinal doctors are experienced in treating conditions unable to be performed by many other practices.
The real question is: What treatment is best to treat your disc tear? Use our Treatment Match tool to quickly get started in finding the right treatment for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disc Tears
Can a disk tear heal itself?
Usually, a torn disc or tear in the lumbar disc can heal on its own after a few weeks to a month. Most doctors recommend non-surgical treatment methods such as a heating and cooling pad to ease the pain or light exercise to strengthen your back. If the pain persists for months and becomes chronic, surgery may be an option.
What are symptoms of disc tears?
Symptoms of a torn disc or tear in the spine include pain, numbness, or tingling in the affected area. If your disc tear is in the neck, you may feel pain in your shoulder or arm. In contrast, a torn disc in the lower back will show symptoms between your hips and toes. Over time, these symptoms may become worse, potentially leading to a herniated disc.
How are disc tears diagnosed?
MRIs are the best tools to diagnose a torn disc, slipped disc, or ruptured disc. An MRI uses magnetic fields and radio-frequency waves to create an image of the spine to reveal the details of the disc, the nucleus, and the annulus. A doctor may also conduct a myelogram, which is usually followed by a CT scan.