That sharp pain in your back shooting down your arm or leg.
A herniated disc happens when one of the soft cushions between your vertebrae pushes out and presses on a nearby nerve. It sounds alarming, but the large majority of people never need surgery — and most get real relief with the right diagnosis and a targeted plan.
Your doctor may call this a slipped disc or a bulging disc.
Often seen within a few days — sometimes as soon as tomorrowRequest your first visit
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No referral needed. We verify your insurance before you arrive.
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What herniated disc really is.
Between each pair of vertebrae sits a disc — a tough outer ring with a gel-like center. When that outer ring develops a crack and the inner material pushes through, it's called a herniation. The disc itself doesn't always hurt. What hurts is when the displaced material presses against a nearby nerve root.
In the lower back, a herniated disc most often irritates the nerve roots that travel down the leg — which is why herniated discs are the leading cause of sciatica. In the neck, the same process sends pain, tingling, or weakness into the shoulder or arm. The location of your symptoms tells us a great deal about which disc and which nerve are involved.
The good news
Disc herniations have a strong natural history of improvement. The extruded material tends to shrink over weeks to months, and most people recover fully without surgery. The goal is to confirm what's happening, protect the nerve while it heals, and use targeted treatment to keep you functional and out of pain.
Contained vs. extruded herniation
We distinguish a contained protrusion (outer ring intact, disc material bulging inward) from a true extrusion (material has broken through). Extrusions can cause more acute nerve symptoms but also tend to resorb faster. MRI localizes the level and direction; a focused neurological exam confirms the nerve root involved — together they guide whether conservative care, an image-guided injection, or something more is the right first move.
Common signs we treat.
Pain down an arm or leg
A sharp, electric, or deep aching pain that radiates from the spine into a limb — the nerve's way of telling you it's being compressed.
Numbness or tingling
Pins-and-needles or numbness along a specific band of the arm or leg — a sign the nerve root carrying sensation to that area is irritated.
Muscle weakness
Difficulty gripping, lifting the foot, or rising from a chair — weakness that follows the nerve the herniated disc is pressing on.
From hurting to healed.
We work from the least-invasive options upward, escalating only if you need it. Most patients improve well before surgery is ever discussed.
Diagnose the cause
A physician examines you and, if needed, reviews imaging to pinpoint exactly what's driving the pain.
Calm it down
Targeted physical therapy, activity guidance, and medication to settle the irritation and reduce inflammation.
Image-guided injections
If pain persists, a precisely targeted injection delivered to the source under imaging.
Advanced options
For the few who need more, minimally invasive interventional procedures — with surgery as a last resort.
Treatment is matched to your specific diagnosis at your visit. The options shown reflect NASPAC's general approach and should be confirmed against the practice's verified procedure list.
Still have questions?
A bulging disc is when the outer wall of the disc expands beyond its normal boundary but stays intact. A herniated disc means the outer wall has cracked and inner disc material has pushed through. Herniations tend to cause more nerve irritation, but both can be painful and both often improve without surgery.
Often, yes. The displaced disc material can shrink over weeks to months through a process called resorption, and the nerve irritation settles with it. Most people experience significant improvement within six to twelve weeks with appropriate care. The key is managing pain and protecting the nerve while healing happens.
Most people with a herniated disc never need surgery. Treatment begins with the least invasive options — physical therapy, activity modification, medication, and often an image-guided epidural injection to reduce nerve inflammation. Surgery is reserved for people who don't improve with these measures or who develop progressive weakness.
An MRI is the gold standard for visualizing disc herniations and the nerves they're pressing on. We combine imaging with a clinical exam to confirm which nerve is involved and match what you're feeling to what the scan shows — because both pieces of information guide the treatment plan.
Stop living with the disc pain.
Book with a board-certified pain physician near you — most patients are seen within days.
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