A person suffering from lower back, arm, neck, or leg pain may be diagnosed with a herniated disc.  In order to truly understand what this means, it is important to know what a disc is made up of and what the functions are of a healthy disc.   A disc is made up of a tough outer core and a gel-like inner material.   A disc functions as a spacer, shock absorber, and motion unit.

The majority of the people who are diagnosed with a herniated disc are not in need of surgery.   Only about 10% of people diagnosed with a herniated disc will need to seek surgical options to relieve their pain.    The purpose for herniated disc surgery is to decrease the pain and allow the patient to move and function as normally as possible.

A doctor will consider the following before he/she makes a decision to operate:

A herniated disc could be the cause of mild to severe back pain.  The first step in determining the cause of back pain is to contact a doctor.  At this point, a doctor will perform an initial exam that will consist of a medical history and physical exam.

Initial Exam

After the medical history and physical exam are performed, a diagnosis of a possible herniated disc will be considered if there is irritation of one or more spinal nerves.   In this initial exam, if there is any loss of strength, sensation, or reflexes, the doctor will likely begin further investigation into determining if there is a herniated disc.  At this point, further tests and visits will be scheduled.  There will likely not be any more tests done during this visit.