Did You Know?

When you have been diagnosed with a disc tear and it is not responding well to non surgical treatments, which of the following is a minimally invasive surgery that would provide you with pain relief?

  • Endoscopic Discectomy
    Disc tears are often minor and can easily be repaired with an Endoscopic Discectomy. This is a minimally invasive surgery and it only requires a local anesthesia and a small incision on the back. For more information on how an Endoscopic Discectomy procedure is performed click here.
  • Laminectomy
    This surgery is used in severe cases and often requires a second surgery be done also to help stabilize the spine as it heals, this surgery would be a spinal fusion. During the procedure your surgeon would remove the backside of your vertebrae to increase space. This is not minimally invasive, try again
  • Disc Replacement Surgery
    If the disc tear is very severe your surgeon may advise you on a total disc replacement surgery, this is a major operation and once the disc is replaced there is no going back. You will have large incision and recovery times will be longer then with a minimally invasive surgery. Try again

What is a Disc Tear?

Disc tears generally refer to tearing of the disc annular tissue, which is often caused by disc degeneration and trauma. Central disc material (nucleus) often moves into the torn annulus, forming an interpositional disc herniation, or moves through the torn disc to the outside of the disc annulus, causing a disc herniation.

Symptoms of a Disc Tear

A disc tear can cause pain that is felt directly in the affected disc. This happens when the nucleus pushes into the damaged annulus and comes in contact with the sinu-vertebral nerves. Once the nucleus pushes through the disc tear and begins to apply pressure on other nerves and surrounding tissue, symptoms of a pinched nerve, sciatica, or spinal stenosis may begin to show.

What Causes a Disc Tear

A disc tear is caused by trauma to the intervertebral disc. Wear and tear on the annulus of the disc will determine the amount of force that would be required to tear it. Age is one of the major contributors in the weakening of the annulus while repetitive strain to it will cause it to degenerate quicker. Genetics may also play a role as some people will be born with a naturally weaker annulus.

Treatment Options for a Disc Tear

A conservative approach to early treatment of a disc tear is recommended. This is achieved with use of anti-inflammatory medicine and exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles.

Surgery that is suggested is often a lumbar fusion requiring large incisions, muscle and tissue cutting/tearing, and a long recovery time including months of physical therapy. A spinal fusion will take up to a full year to properly heal.

An Endoscopic Discectomy can be performed to alleviate symptoms caused by a disc tear. This is a minimally invasive procedure that requires a very small incision and limited recovery. Intravenous sedation and local anesthesia is all that’s required for this procedure and most patients feel instant pain relief before the walk out our door.

How Can We Help

Atlantic Spinal Care has been successfully treating Disc Tear in hundreds of patients every year. If you are interested in learning more about how Atlantic Spinal Care can help you relieve the pain you suffer as a result of Disc Tear please consider one or more of the following options: