Slip Disc

Best Slip Disc Treatment in Delhi

Slip disc is a medical condition characterized by an abnormality in the shape or consistency of the intervertebral discs in the spine. Slip disc is an injury to the cushion-like discs leading to bulging and then compressing the nerve. It is also known as a herniated disc, bulging disc, or ruptured disc. Slip disc is a common problem and approximately 2% of people are affected by it annually.

Types of Slip Disc

Slip disc could be broadly classified into the following types:

Contained Slip Disc

Also known as protrusion, it is caused by pressure between the discs leading to bulge formation or outward protrusion. This is usually associated with mild to moderate pain.

Non-Contained Slip Disc

Also known as extrusion, it is caused by complete leakage of the disc’s soft material outside of the disc. This is associated with severe nerve pain and/or numbness/tingling in legs.

Causes of Slip Disc

Natural Degeneration

Age-related degeneration of the disc is the most common cause of slip disc due to the cushion being less hydrated and less flexible.

Trauma

Injury or trauma is also a major contributory factor for slip disc. It could be due to wrong posture, fall, direct injury, excessive weight lifting, sports injuries, etc.

Signs and Symptoms of Slip Disc

Symptoms of slip disc will depend on the location of the affected disc.

Symptoms of Lower Back Slip Disc

Back pain
Numbness of legs and/or feet
Tingling sensation in feet
Muscular weakness in leg

Symptoms of slip disc in the cervical region

Neck pain
Pain around shoulder blades
Numbness or tingling in arms
Radiating nerve pain from neck to fingers through arms

Risk Factors of Slip Disc

Age: People aged between 30 to 50 years
Gender: Men are 2 times more affected than women
Smoking
Sitting in the same posture for longer durations
Sitting in the wrong posture
Heavy weight lifting
Being overweight
Excessive bending for sports or work-related activities

Diagnosis and Tests for Slip Disc

Diagnosis typically involves understanding the patient’s medical history, symptoms, the severity of pain followed by a physical examination to assess the muscle movement and affected areas. Further, the doctor could order the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:

X-ray: to look for degenerative changes in the bones of the affected area
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This gives an accurate picture of the affected area and confirms the diagnosis.

In addition, the following tests can be used for confirmation in case of any doubts:

CT-scan: Highlights the bones and associated structures in the spinal area
Myelogram: Dye is used along with CT-scan to diagnose spinal canal narrowing
Electromyogram (EMG): Various needles are placed into muscles to understand the electrical activity of the affected nerves

Slip Disc Treatment

Usually, the pain associated with slip disc can go away with rest and mild painkillers. However, for non-resolving pain, depending upon the severity, the following treatment approaches could be followed by your doctor:

Medications: Pain killers, muscle relaxants, or medicines to ease nerve pain such as nortriptyline
Physiotherapy: Exercise regime to soothe the nerve, remove pressure and ease out muscles
Spinal injections: Steroids are injected into the spine to alleviate the pain and swelling.
Surgical interventions: This is used in an emergency in some cases or as the treatment option when all other approaches have failed

Health management during the treatment