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“I Don’t Want My Herniated Disc To Cause Inactivity! ” Spring Into Action & Take Care Of Those Aches & Pains
A herniated disc in the neck can be just as painful as a herniated disc in the back. Armpain from a neck herniated disc is one of the more common neck conditions treated by our spine specialists. Although a neck herniated disc may start from injury to the spine, the symptoms, including arm pain, commonly start frompoor posture or muscle strains. The armpain from a neck herniated disc occurs because the herniated discmaterial “pinches” or presses on a nerve, causing pain to radiate along the nerve down the arm. Our specialized physical therapists are trained to examine your spine and movement to find the root cause of your problem. Thenweworkwith you and your doctor to put together a plan that helps you achieve optimum results. IS THAT THIGH PAIN REALLY SCIATICA? One of the most common mistakes is to assume that all leg pain is sciatica, and must be due to a disc in the back pressing on a nerve. In fact, most leg pain is not pain from the nerve in your spine, and has nothing to do with a herniated disc. There is much confusion about the term sciatica. The term sciatica is defined as pain running down the leg in the path of the sciatic nerve. It is best to understand the difference between referred leg pain, which “refers” from another area and nerve root pain which begins in the spine. Irritation of any of the tissues of the back can cause pain down one or both legs. Seventy percent of patients with back pain have some radiating
pain to their legs. This referred pain can come from the tissues, muscles, ligaments, joints, discs or other back structures. It is usually a dull ache that spreads into the buttocks and thighs. In addition, it may affect both legs, however, it usually does not go much below the knee. Referred pain is not due to anything pressing on a nerve. It is not sciatica. Irritation of the nerve root in the spine gives a quite different pain, which is sharp and specific to an area of your leg. Nerve root pain usually radiates to the foot or toes. Patients often describe the pain with sensations such as pins and needles or numbness. It usually affects one leg only and is greater than the pain one has in the back. Nerve root pain is much less common than referred leg pain. Furthermore, if you have back pain alone and no leg pain or nerve symptoms, a nerve root problem is very unlikely. If you do have leg pain, then your legs should be examined by a physical therapist for signs of nerve irritation or nerve compression. Diagnosing nerve irritation depends on tests that stretch or press on an irritated nerve root to cause pain. Our physical therapists at Lonoke & ProMotion Physical Therapy perform different tests for nerve irritation. A common test is raising the leg straight in the air and looking for radiating pain with limitation. Discover how our physical therapy program transforms your back pain from a pressing problem, to a distant memory, allowing you to live a happy, active and pain-free life.
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