A herniated disc occurs when trauma or a degenerative condition causes the soft, jelly-like center of a vertebral disc to bulge or leak out of the hard, fibrous protective shell of the vertebrae. Depending on the exact condition, this can cause radiating pain, tingling, numbness and loss of mobility. Dr. Sina Rajamand provides skilled and minimally-invasive treatment for herniated disc at Battle Born Brian and Spine in Reno.

Herniated discs are classified by the condition of the soft inner core:

• Disc protrusion – the core bulges from the disc, but the outer layer of the disc remains intact.
• Disc extrusion – the core breaks through the outer layer and leaks out into the spinal canal but remains attached to the disc.
• Disc sequestration – the core breaks through the outer layer and completely separates from the disc. In this scenario, the core material may travel through or become lodged in the spinal canal.

The neck and lower back areas bear the most weight, so they are more frequently the areas where herniated discs occur. All the types of herniated discs listed above can result in pain, inflammation and radiating pain if the core material presses on the spinal cord or nerve branches.

Relief from Spinal Disc Pain in Reno, Carson City

Treatments to bring relief from spinal disc pain typically begin with NSAIDs and OTC pain medication, hot and cold therapy, lifestyle changes, physical therapy and facet joint injections. For discs that have significant damage and pain, surgery is indicated. Dr. Sina Rajamand is an experienced neurosurgeon who can offer various surgical treatments for repairing herniated discs.

Generally, surgery to remove any loose core material and broken vertebrae is combined with decompression and spinal fusion and/or fixation. These procedures remove any objects that are pressing on or compressing the spine or nerve branches and then fuse damaged vertebrae together to add strength and stability to the spine.

Dr. Rajamand regularly uses true minimally-invasive surgical techniques to perform these procedures, allowing his patients to enjoy reduced risks and faster recovery. He can explain more about what your particular situation will need, and the recommended repair procedure, in a surgical consultation. Contact Battle Born Brain and Spine today in Reno to schedule an exam and consultation with Dr. Rajamand.