Pain Management Options for Disc Herniation: What You Need to Know

At Alturas Pain and Spine Specialists, we help patients with herniated discs manage their pain. Dr. Stacie Oliver is your pain and spine expert in St. George, UT. If you are dealing with pain from a slipped disc, keep reading about our approach to pain management, and call us today to start feeling better.

Disc Herniation

A herniated disc is a common problem we see in our practice. Your spine is comprised of a stack of vertebrae and intervertebral discs that cushion in between the vertebrae. Also called a slipped disc, herniation occurs when the disc bulges out of the spinal column. It will often press on a nerve, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms or legs.

If you experience a sudden onset of intense pain in the spine or limbs, lying down and resting is wise, but you should come to see us as soon as possible. Your provider may perform an MRI or CT scan to confirm a diagnosis and conduct a thorough interview about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life to formulate the best pain management plan for your lifestyle.

Pain Management Options

A herniated disc can be painful and restrict your movement, but the goal of a pain management program is to help minimize your pain so you can still lead an active life for your overall health. A program consists of clinical treatments and lifestyle changes you can implement daily to help manage your pain. Some techniques we use are:

• Physical therapy exercises that strengthen the muscles supporting the spine and help improve range of motion
• Medications that help reduce pain and inflammation, like NSAIDs and corticosteroids
• Minimally invasive procedures like joint injections and radiofrequency ablation are often used at our practice to manage your pain and help you stay active

Spinal surgery is typically only considered when these more conservative treatments have failed or you do not see results from a pain management program.

Get Help Today

If back pain slows you down and interferes with your life, come to Alturas Pain and Spine Specialists. Our pain and spine specialist creates customized treatment plans for pain management in St. George, UT. Call (435) 222-5527 to make an appointment with Dr. Oliver.