Disc Displacement Specialists

Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics -  - Orthopedics

Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics

Orthopedics & Sports Medicine located in Nashville, TN & Franklin, TN

Disc displacement is a common cause of back and neck pain, often due to a bulging or herniated disc. If you're experiencing symptoms of a bulging or herniated disc in Nashville or Franklin, TN, Elite's board-certified surgeons can help. They specialize in using minimally invasive techniques to treat disc problems. Call or book online today.

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Herniated Disc and Bulging Disc Treatment in Nashville and Franklin, TN

 

What is Disc Displacement?

Herniated disc

Disc displacement is a problem that occurs when the shock absorbent pads between each of your vertebrae shift out of position. Typically, this is due to disc herniation.

A herniated disc is one where the center – a soft, jelly-like substance – bulges or protrudes through a weak spot in the disc's outer casing. The displaced disc can irritate or compress nerves in your spinal canal that results in back pain, as well as sensations of tingling or prickling, "pins-and-needles," weakness, and numbness.

If the disc displacement occurs in your neck (cervical spine), these symptoms affect your arms. If you have a bulging disc in your lower back (lumbar spine), you feel the effects in your legs. 

Sciatica, a common cause of shooting leg pain, is often due to disc displacement that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.

 

What Causes Disc Displacement?

A bulging or herniated disc can happen due to trauma, for example, in auto accidents or falls from height. However, in most cases, the problem begins with a condition called degenerative disc disease.

The spongy discs in your spine have plenty of fluid in them when you're young, but as you age, the moisture levels drop, and your discs get drier and flatter. To make matters worse, your body's natural repair mechanisms don't work as well when you get older, so there's less healing activity or cell renewal in your discs.

This degeneration of your spinal discs makes the outer coating more likely to develop weak spots. Disc herniation occurs when the inside of the disc eventually squeezes through the weakened outer shell.

 

What are the Signs of a Herniated Disc?

Low back pain herniated disc

If you have a herniated disc, you may experience no symptoms or minimal symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, here are some signs of a slipped disc:

  • You have pain- if your herniated disc is located in the lumbar spine (low back,) you may experience low back pain, pain in the butt, or leg pain. If the slipped disc is in the cervical spine (neck,) you may experience neck pain, arm pain, or shoulder pain
  • You experience weakness, tingling, or numbness - if you have a herniated disc, you may experience weakness, tingling, or numbness in the neck and back. These symptoms can also radiate to surrounding areas. 
  • Your pain intensifies - you may have a herniated disc if your pain worsens when doing activities that put pressure on the spine. 

 

 

What are My Options for Herniated Disc Treatment?

You might find that a combination of rest, anti-inflammatory medication, ice packs, and gentle exercise are all you need to relieve the symptoms of disc displacement. 

Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics has highly skilled physical therapists who can guide you on the best ways to move. Epidural steroid injections might also be helpful.

When these measures aren't successful in relieving your disc displacement symptoms, you may need to consider surgery. The expert spine surgeons at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics are specialists in performing minimally invasive spine surgery to resolve disc displacement.

Procedures they perform include:

  • ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion)   
  • ALIF (anterior lumbar interbody fusion)
  • XLIF (extreme lateral interbody fusion)
  • Microdiscectomy
  • Artificial disc replacement

If you're affected by bulging discs or herniated discs, find out how to get relief from your back pain and other symptoms by calling Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics or book an appointment online today.