For disc herniation pain relief, SNRBs have reported success rates of around 75% for up to one year. Although SNRBs are primarily diagnostic procedures, they also have therapeutic benefits. The local anesthetic blocks pain signals between the affected nerve and your brain. The steroids in SNRBs inhibit the production of arachidonic acid, which leads to inflammation development and pain amplification. Doctors use fluoroscopy - X-ray guidance - and a contrast dye to ensure they inject the SNRB into the desired area. A neural sheath is the connective tissue around each nerve, while a nerve root is the point where each nerve exits the spine. To perform an SNRB, doctors inject the steroid-anesthetic mixture around or beside the neural sheath of the nerve root. Therapeutically, the nerve root block can provide some therapeutic relief to the patient. The nerve root block has two purposes – diagnostically if the nerve root block relieves the patient’s pain, it confirms the nerve root is causing the pain. Nerve root block injections contain a local anesthetic and sometimes a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Paul Brisson and the expert staff at NY Spine Care, and top spine surgeon of Manhattan, NY care for you and heal your back pain for good.A selective nerve root block (SNRB) is a minimally invasive injection that interrupts pain signals between your spinal nerves and brain. Discectomy, which removes the disc material that is pressing on the nerve root, is the most common form of disc herniation surgery. Sometimes, these severe cases do not respond to nonsurgical treatment, and surgery on the herniated disk may be recommended. In severe cases, herniated disc symptoms might grossly interfere with your daily life. In moderate cases, herniated disc treatment may involve conservative methods such as physical therapy to aid in pain management. He may do tests, such as an MRI or a CT, to identify the issue. Brisson will thoroughly examine your back and ask questions about the type of pain that you are experiencing. A lumbar herniated disc can cause pain from the lower back to the legs, and a cervical disc herniation can cause pain from the neck down to the arms.Ĭorrect diagnosis of the nature of the herniated disc (determining whether the disc is bulging or has actually broken open and ruptured) is crucial to determining the correct course of treatment.ĭuring your consultation, Dr. In addition to age-related wear and tear, a herniated disc can also be caused by an injury to the spine.ĭepending on its location and the nerve roots that are pinched, a herniated disc can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness in other parts of the body. The exuded disc material (or the bulging of the disc caused by the exuding gel) can then push against surrounding nerve roots, causing pain and other herniated disc symptoms. This condition is known as disc herniation.
As a person’s spine degenerates with age, so do the gel-filled discs that act as shock absorbers and cushions between the vertebrae bones.ĭeteriorating discs may tear, allowing the soft gel within to leak out into the spinal canal. In order to select the best treatment method for your individual situation, it’s important to understand the underlying cause of the pain. If you are seeking treatment for a herniated disc, you may be confused by the variety of interchangeable terms that describe the condition, including bulging disc, torn disc, and slipped disc.
Brisson is one of the leading spine surgeons in New York City, specializing in treating spine conditions such as disk herniation.