| Patients suffering from chronic back pain due to a | | | | chest |
| herniated disc usually try a succession of | | | | · Pain made worse with coughing, |
| recommended and prescribed remedies to help | | | | straining, or laughing |
| ease their comfort. Because of major | | | | · Increased pain when bending the neck |
| advancements in medical technology, now those | | | | or turning head to the side |
| suffering from this common problem no longer | | | | · Spasm of the neck muscles |
| have to live with that pain. | | | | · Arm muscle weakness |
| Patients diagnosed with a herniated disc may have | | | | Treatment for Herniated Discs |
| pain in the back, leg, neck or arm, or a weakness | | | | Fortunately, the majority of herniated discs do |
| of the lower extremity muscles. When a disc | | | | not require surgery. However, a very small |
| herniation occurs, the cushion that sits between | | | | percentage of people with herniated, degenerated |
| the spinal vertebrae is pushed outside its normal | | | | discs may experience symptomatic or severe and |
| position. A herniated disc would not be a problem | | | | incapacitating pain that significantly affects their |
| if it weren't for the spinal nerves that are very | | | | daily life. |
| close to the edge of these spinal discs. | | | | The initial treatment for a herniated disc is usually |
| Causes of Herniated Discs | | | | conservative and nonsurgical. Your doctor may |
| A herniated disc may occur suddenly in an event | | | | prescribe bed rest, or advise you to maintain a |
| such as a fall or an accident, or may occur | | | | low, painless activity level for a few days to |
| gradually with repetitive straining of the spine. | | | | several weeks. This helps the spinal nerve |
| However, disc material degenerates naturally as | | | | inflammation to decrease. |
| you age, and the ligaments that hold it in place | | | | Traditional conservative treatments include ice, |
| begin to weaken. As this degeneration progresses, | | | | ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone |
| a relatively minor strain or twisting movement can | | | | injections, anti-inflammatory medications and |
| cause a disc to rupture. | | | | physical therapy. While these may deliver some |
| Certain individuals may be more vulnerable to disc | | | | relief, it will usually be only temporary. |
| problems, and as a result may suffer herniated | | | | But the major concern with these traditional |
| discs in several places along the spine. Research | | | | treatments is that they cannot fix or heal a |
| has shown that a predisposition for herniated discs | | | | herniated disc as they do not address the actual |
| may exist in families, with several members | | | | cause of the problem. |
| affected. | | | | Individuals who undergo a series of open back |
| Symptoms | | | | surgeries or fusion surgeries for herniated disc |
| Symptoms vary greatly depending on the position | | | | pain experience a lower level of pain relief. Up to |
| of the herniated disc and the size of the | | | | 30% of those who undergo surgery have |
| herniation. If the herniated disc is not pressing on | | | | unsatisfactory results, as stated in a Practice |
| a nerve, the result may be a low backache or no | | | | Guideline developed for the Aerospace Medical |
| pain at all. If it is pressing on a nerve, there may | | | | Association by the American Society of |
| be pain, numbness, or weakness in the area of | | | | Aerospace Medicine Specialists. Herniated disc |
| the body to which the nerve travels. Typically, a | | | | open or fusion surgery is an involved procedure |
| herniated disc is preceded by an episode of low | | | | whose high failure rate can produce more pain |
| back pain or a long history of intermittent | | | | than relief. |
| episodes of low back pain. | | | | New Technology Speeds Return to Active |
| Herniated discs are most common in the lumbar | | | | Lifestyle |
| spine--the part of your backbone between the | | | | With advances in science and technology, there |
| bottom of your ribs and your hips. Symptoms | | | | are alternatives to open or fusion spine surgeries. |
| include: | | | | A proven alternative for helping to alleviate the |
| · Severe low back pain | | | | pain of a herniated disc is The Bonati |
| · Pain radiating to the buttocks, legs, and | | | | Procedures(sm). |
| feet | | | | The Bonati Procedures are advanced spine |
| · Pain made worse with coughing, | | | | surgeries developed and perfected by The Bonati |
| straining, or laughing | | | | Institute®. The procedures employ the |
| · Tingling or numbness in legs or feet | | | | smallest incision possible to correct problems of |
| · Muscle weakness or atrophy in later | | | | the lumbar, cervical and thoracic spine with |
| stages | | | | patented instrumentation and methods. The Bonati |
| · Problems with bowel and bladder | | | | Procedures are performed sequentially as |
| · Muscle spasm | | | | outpatient surgeries with the patient under local |
| Herniated cervical discs are far less common than | | | | anesthesia and alert and able to communicate |
| lumbar disc herniation because there is | | | | with the surgeon throughout the procedure. The |
| substantially less pressure placed across this part | | | | result of this approach is far less trauma to the |
| of the spine. Symptoms of a herniated cervical | | | | muscles and tissues, minimal blood loss and faster |
| disc include: | | | | recovery. The Bonati Procedures are performed |
| · Neck pain, especially in the back and | | | | only at The Bonati Institute. |
| sides | | | | Consider all options |
| · Deep pain near or over the shoulder | | | | Before you agree to undergo any back surgery, |
| blades on the affected side | | | | consider getting a second opinion from a qualified |
| · Pain radiating to the shoulder, upper | | | | spine specialist. |
| arm, forearm, and rarely the hand, fingers or | | | | |