Around 65 million Americans have had recent back pain, making it the 6th most costly condition in the USA.
A little bit of back pain is standard. However, when it gets severe and stops you from completing daily living activities, it may be time to get treatment. One option available to you is disc replacement.
But, how are you meant to know when disc replacement is necessary? With so much conflicting information available online, it can be challenging knowing which will be the best treatment for your bad back.
Read on to find out four critical signs that a disc replacement procedure may be the best option.
1. Other Treatments Aren’t Working
First things first, disc replacement is a major surgical procedure, so, understandably, doctors don’t recommend it as a first-line solution.
Instead, they’ll recommend anti-inflammatory medication, rest, and physical therapy. Some people have also found significant improvements with alternative treatments such as chiropractic work.
But, when each of these treatments isn’t working – this signifies that something is drastically wrong. In these cases, it’s best to consider disc replacement if you want to be pain-free.
2. You Have Radiating Pain
Next, you need to pay particular attention to any pain that radiates through your arms or legs. Typical back pain is confined to your back; if it isn’t, it’s time to see a doctor.
Radiating pain is a key indicator of a pinched nerve, often caused by a compressed disc. So, whether you need a replacement or not, it’s worth getting it investigated by a healthcare professional.
If you are diagnosed with a compressed disc, they may recommend surgery.
3. You Have a Herniated Disc
If you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc, this may be the treatment for you. Not all herniated discs are the same, but they are notoriously difficult to treat.
After your diagnosis, your first-line approach should be rest, pain medication, and physical therapy. However, in many cases, this doesn’t work.
If you’re still dealing with pain after these measures, speak to your doctor about getting disc replacement surgery.
4. You’re Ready to be Pain-Free
Finally, if you’ve tried all the conservative methods and nothing is helping, the next logical step is to look into different types of back surgery to help you be pain-free.
It may feel like a major step to take, but sometimes it’s necessary. A couple of months of taking it easy and specialist after-care will be worth it when you’re able to do everything you like, pain-free, for years to come!
Signs That Disc Replacement Surgery Could Change Your Life
So that’s everything you need to know about whether you need a disc replacement. If you’re experiencing these five symptoms, it’s time to get to a doctor and have some tests done.
If a disc replacement is appropriate, it won’t just be a pain management solution; it’ll be the answer to all your problems.
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