Herniated Disc Pain: What to Expect from an Orthopedic Doctor

A herniated disc occurs when the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc pushes through its tougher outer layer. When this happens, the disc material can irritate or compress nearby nerves, leading to significant and sometimes debilitating pain. While the condition is common, especially as we age, it can also affect younger adults due to sudden injuries or excessive strain.

These factors can lead to symptoms that vary widely in severity. Many people experience sharp or aching back pain, while others feel radiating leg pain—often called sciatica. Numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and reduced mobility are also frequent indicators of disc-related nerve irritation.

Early evaluation is incredibly important. Without timely diagnosis and targeted treatment, nerve compression can worsen, healing may slow, and compensatory movement patterns may lead to additional joint or muscle problems.

At Medici Orthopaedics & Spine, we specialize in a conservative-first, minimally invasive approach to herniated disc pain. Our goal is to restore comfort and function while avoiding unnecessary medications or surgeries. We meet patients exactly where they are and guide them toward relief that lasts.

How Orthopedic Doctors Diagnose a Herniated Disc

Thorough Medical History Review

Your orthopedic doctor will start by gathering detailed information about your symptoms, including:

• When the pain began
• What activities make it better or worse
• Whether the pain radiates into legs or arms

We’ll also explore:

• Your occupation (many herniations stem from sitting or lifting)
• Daily movement habits and lifestyle factors
• Previous injuries or treatments you’ve tried

Physical Examination

Next comes a hands-on evaluation to assess how your spine and nerves are functioning.

Your doctor may test:

• Range of motion: how well you bend, twist, and move
• Strength: to identify muscle weakness caused by nerve compression
• Reflexes: which can diminish when nerves are irritated
• Sensation: checking for numbness, tingling, or altered feeling
• Straight Leg Raise test: a simple yet powerful way to detect nerve tension in the lower spine

Advanced Imaging

While not always required immediately, imaging can confirm a diagnosis when symptoms persist or are severe.

MRI:
The gold standard for detecting herniated discs. It allows us to see disc height, nerve compression, inflammation, and soft-tissue structures with remarkable clarity.

X-rays:
Useful for evaluating alignment, curvature, and bone health. While they cannot show discs themselves, they help rule out structural issues such as fractures or degenerative bone changes.

CT scans:
Occasionally used when MRI is not possible or when additional bone detail is needed.

Differential Diagnosis

Herniated disc symptoms can mimic several other conditions. A knowledgeable orthopedic doctor knows how to differentiate between:

• Spinal stenosis: narrowing of the spinal canal
• SI joint dysfunction: pain originating from the sacroiliac joint
• Piriformis syndrome: a muscle compressing the sciatic nerve
• Facet joint pain: arthritic or inflamed spinal joints
• Hip pathology: hip arthritis or labral tears that radiate pain to the back or leg

Conservative Treatment Options from an Orthopedic Doctor

Physical Therapy

A targeted physical therapy program remains one of the most effective nonsurgical treatments for disc-related pain. Your therapist will focus on:

• Strengthening core and stabilizing muscles to reduce pressure on the spine
• Posture correction to improve alignment and minimize nerve irritation
• Nerve gliding techniques to gently mobilize irritated nerves and reduce radiating symptoms
• Flexibility training to ease stiffness and improve range of motion

Myofascial Release & Soft Tissue Therapy

When muscles around the spine tighten or spasm—often as a protective response—pain can worsen. Soft tissue therapies help by:

• Reducing muscle guarding, which often builds up around an injured disc
• Improving mobility and blood flow to support natural healing

Medication Management

Medications may be used short-term to reduce pain and inflammation, but at Medici, they are always prescribed responsibly and conservatively.

Common medications include:

• Anti-inflammatories to relieve swelling and nerve irritation
• Muscle relaxants for short-term relief of spasms

Medici Orthopaedics & Spine follows a drug-sparing philosophy, emphasizing healing over masking symptoms. We avoid long-term opioid therapy and instead focus on targeted, restorative solutions.

Lifestyle & Ergonomic Recommendations

Daily habits play a powerful role in managing herniated disc symptoms.

Your orthopedic doctor may help you adjust:

• Lifting mechanics to reduce strain on the spine
• Workplace ergonomics, ensuring your chair, desk, and posture support your recovery
• Daily movement strategies such as safe bending, standing, sleeping positions, and breaks from prolonged sitting

Image-Guided Interventional Treatments

Epidural Steroid Injections

These injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly around irritated nerves.

Benefits include:

• Reducing nerve inflammation, which often causes radiating pain
• Restoring mobility, allowing patients to return to therapy or daily life with less discomfort

Selective Nerve Root Blocks

A nerve root block targets a single irritated nerve with precision.

They provide:

• Immediate, targeted relief in the back, buttock, or leg
• Diagnostic value, helping confirm which nerve is responsible for symptoms

Facet Joint Injections

When a herniated disc causes inflammation in nearby facet joints—or when facet arthritis is also present—pain may be compounded.

Facet injections help:

• Calm inflamed spinal joints
• Reduce stiffness
• Support more comfortable movement

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

For patients with chronic back pain associated with facet irritation or post-herniation inflammation, RFA can provide longer-lasting relief.

This minimally invasive technique:

• Gently quiets pain-signaling nerves
• Offers relief lasting 6–18 months for many patients

Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Treatments

Herniated disc pain often forces patients to move differently, placing extra stress on the SI joint. This compensation can trigger new pain patterns.

SI joint injections or RFA help by:

• Reducing inflammation in overstressed SI joints
• Improving stability and comfort, especially during walking, bending, or standing

Regenerative Medicine Options

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)

PRP therapy involves concentrating your body’s own healing platelets and injecting them into target areas around the spine.

Benefits include:

• Disc-adjacent tissue healing: PRP can help repair strained ligaments, tendons, and supporting structures around the injured disc.
• Reduced inflammation: Growth factors within PRP help calm nerve irritation and promote healthy tissue regeneration.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy stimulates the body’s natural repair response to strengthen weakened or overstretched ligaments.

It supports healing by:

• Strengthening ligaments that stabilize the spine
• Improving spinal stability, which reduces pressure on the injured disc and helps prevent future flare-ups

Advanced Therapies for Persistent Herniated Disc Pain

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

HBOT involves breathing concentrated oxygen in a pressurized chamber, dramatically increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to tissues and nerves.

Benefits include:

• Enhanced tissue oxygenation, supporting healing in damaged spinal tissues
• Reduced nerve inflammation, which can significantly decrease radiating pain
• Faster recovery when used alongside physical therapy or other treatments

Neuromodulation (Spinal Cord Stimulation)

For patients whose nerve pain persists despite comprehensive treatment, Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) can provide meaningful relief.

SCS works by:

• Modifying pain signals before they reach the brain
• Reducing radiating leg pain, burning, tingling, and nerve hypersensitivity
• Improving daily function and comfort without surgery on the disc itself

This therapy is reserved for chronic nerve pain that has resisted standard treatments—and it often provides life-changing improvements in mobility and quality of life.

You Don’t Have to Live With Herniated Disc Pain—Relief Starts Here.

Herniated disc pain can feel overwhelming—especially when it interferes with work, sleep, or the activities that bring joy into your life. But the truth is this: with the right orthopedic specialist, relief is absolutely within reach. You deserve a clear diagnosis, compassionate guidance, and a personalized treatment plan that helps you get back to moving freely and confidently. You do not have to settle for chronic discomfort or rely on unnecessary medications or surgeries.

With minimally invasive techniques and a patient-first approach, we focus on reducing downtime, restoring mobility, and empowering you with clear guidance and ongoing support. When you choose Medici, you’re not just receiving treatment—you’re gaining a dedicated partner in your recovery journey.

Schedule Your Evaluation Today

If you’re ready to find answers—and real relief—we’re here to help.

• Website: https://www.mediciortho.com/
• Call Us: +1-844-328-4624