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Herniated Disc

What is Herniated Discs?

Sciatica is a condition where the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed, causing pain that radiates from the lower back down one or both legs. It can also cause numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg, making daily activities like walking, sitting, or bending difficult. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can improve quality of life and prevent further nerve damage.

What causes Herniated Discs

  • Age-related degeneration of spinal discs
  • Repetitive heavy lifting or improper lifting technique
  • Trauma or injury to the spine
  • Sudden twisting or bending movements
  • Poor posture over long periods
  • Obesity increasing stress on the spine
  • Sedentary lifestyle or weak core muscles
  • Genetic predisposition to disc problems
  • High-impact sports or athletic activities
  • Smoking reducing blood flow and slowing disc healing
  • Osteoarthritis affecting the spine
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
  • Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebrae)
  • Previous spinal surgeries or injuries
  • Inflammatory conditions like ankylosing spondylitis
  • Pregnancy-related spinal stress
  • Vitamin D or calcium deficiency weakening bones
  • Jobs requiring long periods of sitting or bending
  • Chronic stress causing muscle tension around the spine

Risk factors

  • Age (discs naturally degenerate over time)
  • Obesity or excess body weight
  • Sedentary lifestyle or weak core muscles
  • Smoking affecting disc health and healing
  • Poor posture at work, home, or during sleep
  • Previous lower back injuries
  • High-impact sports or repetitive spinal stress
  • Genetics affecting disc structure and strength
  • Heavy manual labor without proper technique
  • Improper lifting techniques
  • Chronic stress leading to muscle tension
  • Wearing high heels frequently (affecting posture)
  • Vitamin D or calcium deficiency
  • Diabetes or metabolic conditions affecting spine health
  • Long periods of sitting at work or commuting
  • Occupations requiring repetitive bending, twisting, or lifting
  • Trauma from accidents or falls
  • Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis
  • Spondylolisthesis or spinal instability
  • Scar tissue from prior spinal surgery

Symptoms

  • Pain in the lower back, neck, or affected area
  • Pain radiating to arms or legs depending on disc location
  • Numbness or tingling in extremities
  • Muscle weakness in affected areas
  • Pain worsened by bending, twisting, or lifting
  • Temporary relief from rest but persistent discomfort
  • Difficulty performing daily activities
  • Burning or sharp pain along the nerve path
  • Cramping or spasms in nearby muscles
  • Reduced range of motion in the spine
  • Pain triggered by coughing, sneezing, or sudden movement
  • Weak grip or difficulty holding objects (if cervical spine is affected)
  • Foot drop or difficulty lifting the front part of the foot (if lumbar spine affected)
  • Sleep disturbances due to pain
  • Difficulty standing or maintaining posture
  • Tingling or prickling sensations in hands or feet
  • Balance problems in severe cases
  • Stiffness in back or neck
  • Swelling or inflammation around affected area
  • Persistent discomfort despite over-the-counter pain medications

Locations We Serve for Herniated Disc Treatment

We provide expert herniated disc treatment and specialized care for patients in Flushing, Queens, Bayside, Whitestone, Fresh Meadows, and surrounding areas across New York.

Queens Flushing Bayside Fresh Meadows Whitestone Little Neck Great Neck College Point Oakland Gardens Jackson Heights Douglaston Glen Oaks Forest Hills

Treatment

Treatments range from conservative treatment to surgery. Our goal is to provide you with the best treatment plan to reduce pain, but these treatments do not change the underlying source of pain. Medical treatments are often used in combination such as: medications, physical therapy programs, and injection therapy.

Epidural Injections

Treats radiating pain; deposit the medication, typically steroids in the epidural space of the spine.

Nerve root block injections

Targets a specific spinal nerve and deposit medication around the nerve at the point where it exits the intervertebral foramen (bony opening between adjacent vertebrae).

Facet joint injections

Treat pain stemming from a specific facet joint.

Medial branch blocks

Deposit medication around the medial branches of spinal nerves. The medial branch is a nerve that sends pain signals to the brain from an arthritic facet joint. An injection directed around the medial branch can relieve neck and lower back pain.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Treats pain by lesioning  medial branch nerves of the facet  joints.