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Understanding herniated discs with the orthopedic surgeon in Ajijic
A herniated disc (also known as a bulging disc, ruptured disc, or slipped disc) occurs when a portion of the vertebral disc ruptures. Through the tear, the inner central portion of the disc (nucleus pulposus) is pushed out into the spinal canal; this type of injury tends to happen in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar area. Because the spinal canal has limited space, the displaced disc can sometimes press on the nerves, which in the majority of cases leads to numbness and pain.
The most common causes of herniated disc cases include the natural aging process, trauma or injury to the disc, episodes of heavy lifting, and sudden twisting of the spine. There are various symptoms associated with a herniated disc, for example, if the herniation occurs in the upper back, you may experience discomfort, shooting or burning pain, and weakness or numbness in one or both arms. If the herniation occurs in the lower back, you may experience the same symptoms, but directed towards your legs, feeling discomfort in your foot, ankle, or entire leg, and usually, the leg pain becomes worse when sitting.
Time to visit a specialist
A common mistake people with a herniated disc make is to think that they can just walk it off, or that the pain will go away by itself, but it never does, and then comes the time when the pain and the interruption of your daily activities are too much to handle, so you see a specialist, which in this case should be an orthopedic surgeon. When you visit the orthopedist, during your evaluation it is common for the doctor to ask you a couple of questions, perform some tests, and request imaging tests which can be X-Rays, MRIs, or CT scans, in order to locate the source of your pain and pinpoint the herniated disc. Depending on the herniated disc, the doctor will recommend the use of medication and non-surgical treatments, or recommend surgery.
An orthopedic surgeon you can trust
If you are ever in need of a specialist to perform herniated disc surgery, the orthopedic surgeon in Ajijic can help you. His goals as a certified medical tourism specialist are to offer the best orthopedic care and surgery services to international patients, by working with honesty, humanity, and excellence, surrounded by medical quality and advanced technology. Get in touch today and ask for a quote!
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