Herniated Disc Treatment Marthasville, MO. A herniated disc can keep you from living the active life you want, but healing is achievable with the proper care. At Axes Physical Therapy, we focus on evidence-based treatments tailored to your individual requirements, whether you’re suffering from slight pain or serious discomfort. Our expert physical therapy team in Marthasville, MO is committed to helping you heal non-surgically, using personalized plans intended to relieve pain, improve movement, and help you return to the things you enjoy.
Take control of your recovery and start feeling better today with Axes Physical Therapy in Marthasville, MO. Make an appointment through our website, call the location nearest you, or drop by any of our locations for a free injury screening.
About Herniated Discs
A herniated disc is a common injury affecting the spine, where the soft, gel-like center of a disc (the Nucleus Pulposus) pushes through its outer layer, placing strain on nearby nerves. This condition can result in a range of symptoms, including sharp pain in the back or neck pain, as well as pain spreading through the arms or legs depending on the affected area of the spine. In extreme cases, it can even cause weakness or numbness in the limbs, making daily tasks like walking, lifting, or even lying or sitting down hard to perform.
Herniated disc symptoms include:
- Pain: Sharp, radiating pain in the lower back (lumbar herniation) or neck (cervical herniation), often extending to the limbs (sciatica).
- Numbness or tingling: A frequent symptom is numbness or tingling in the limbs, particularly the arms, legs, hands, or feet, which occurs because of nerve compression.
- Muscle weakness: Muscle weakness often manifests in the arms or legs, which can signal a more severe form of nerve compression.
Risk factors and causes:
- Age-related degeneration: Over time, spinal discs lose hydration and flexibility, reducing their ability to cushion the spine, which increases the risk of injury.
- Injury and improper lifting: Trauma, like sports injuries or lifting improperly, can cause discs in the spine to herniate.
- Repetitive movements: Jobs or activities that involve repeated bending, twisting, or lifting heavy objects increase the risk of disc injury.
- Poor posture: Maintaining poor posture over extended periods can add unnecessary pressure to the spine.
It’s crucial to intervene early. At Axes Physical Therapy in Marthasville, MO, we carry out an in-depth assessment of your alignment, movement, reflexes, and spinal health to identify the severity and exact location of the herniated disc. This helps us design a treatment plan personalized to your specific needs, putting you on the road to recovery quickly and effectively.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Herniated Discs in Marthasville, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we offer non-surgical approaches to treating herniated discs in Marthasville, MO. Our aim is to ease pain, restore mobility, and improve your quality of life, all while bypassing the need for invasive procedures.
The Evaluation Process
At Axes Physical Therapy in Marthasville, MO, our physical therapists will begin your first session with a comprehensive evaluation to determine the severity of your disc herniation and its effect on your mobility. The assessment typically involves analyzing your posture, flexibility, and how well your nerves are functioning.
- Posture analysis: Identifying any imbalances that may be contributing to your condition.
- Spine mobility tests: Checking the spine’s range of motion to pinpoint areas of stiffness or limited movement.
- Nerve function testing: Testing nerve function to detect possible compression or damage leading to symptoms like numbness or tingling.
Key Treatment Techniques:
- Manual Therapy: Our licensed therapists use hands-on techniques to manipulate soft tissues and joints, reducing pain and muscle tension while improving spine mobility. This can involve:
- Spinal mobilization: Careful manipulation techniques to restore proper spinal alignment and reduce nerve pressure.
- Myofascial release: A technique to reduce tightness in the connective tissues that surround muscles and organs, promoting overall relaxation and reducing pain.
- Trigger point dry needling: Inserting fine needles into the skin and muscles to promote healing and alleviate tension, inflammation, and pain.
Targeted Exercises:
- Pelvic tilt: This exercise builds core strength, which helps reduce spinal pressure and ease discomfort.
- McKenzie extension: Helps relieve pressure on the herniated disc by gently extending the spine.
- Cat-cow stretch: Aids in increasing spinal flexibility and decreasing muscle tension in the back.
- Lumbar stabilization: Strengthens muscles supporting the spine to enhance stability and reduce stress on the disc.
- Hamstring stretches: Increases flexibility in the legs, which reduces strain on the lower back.
- Wall sits: This exercise strengthens the lower back and legs, helping to improve posture and provide better support for the spine.
- Bridges: This exercise targets the glutes and lower back, offering additional support to the spine and alleviating discomfort.
- Knee-to-chest stretch: Helps to gently stretch the lower back, reducing tension and providing relief in the lumbar region.
- Bird-dog exercise: This exercise improves core balance and stability while strengthening the muscles surrounding the spine.
Progressive Treatment Plan
As your condition improves, we transition from passive treatments, like manual therapy, to more active therapies designed to strengthen your body and improve your overall spinal health. Incorporating exercises such as bird-dog movements and prone extensions is essential for helping you restore control of your movements and avoid future injuries.
Our thorough treatment approach allows patients to experience notable reductions in pain, increased mobility, and a better quality of life, without the need for surgery. Each of our custom treatment plans is designed to help you recover at a rate that suits you, ensuring your rehabilitation is both comfortable and effective.
Pre- and Post-Surgical Rehab for Herniated Discs in Marthasville, MO
In some cases, surgery may be needed for herniated discs, particularly when conservative treatments don’t provide relief. At Axes, we assist Marthasville, MO patients both before and after surgery with focused therapy to help you achieve the best possible recovery.
Pre-Surgery Therapy:
Engaging in physical therapy before surgery helps optimize recovery after the procedure. Our goals before surgery include:
- Maximizing mobility: We aim to strengthen and increase your mobility to ensure a quicker recovery after surgery.
- Reducing pain and inflammation: Using therapies that can help ease discomfort in the days leading up to surgery.
Post-Surgery Therapy:
Following surgery, physical therapy plays a key role in helping you regain function and rebuild strength. Our post-surgical rehabilitation plans focus on:
- Rebuilding strength: Primarily targeting the core muscles and other muscles that support your spine.
- Restoring mobility: Aiming to restore natural movement patterns with as little pain as possible.
- Preventing future injuries: By teaching you about proper posture, body mechanics, and safe ways to move.
Our goal is to ensure that surgery, when needed, is as successful as possible, allowing you to return to your everyday and favorite activities in Marthasville, MO without pain or limitations.
Why Choose Axes Physical Therapy for Your Herniated Disc Treatment in Marthasville, MO?
At Axes Physical Therapy, our approach to treating herniated discs goes beyond simple pain relief. With over 15 years of experience, our licensed physical and occupational therapists in Marthasville, MO design tailored treatment plans that target both the symptoms and root causes of your condition.
Why Patients Trust Us:
- Experience: Our therapists have vast experience managing a variety of spinal conditions.
- Patient-Centered Care: We customize each care plan to the patient, addressing both physical and emotional needs.
- Cutting-Edge Techniques: Utilizing the most up-to-date therapy methods, we incorporate everything from manual therapy to specialized exercises for herniated disc recovery.
We’ve helped numerous patients return to active, pain-free lives through our treatments, and their success stories are a testament to our approach.
Other services we offer in Marthasville, MO include:
- Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment
- Running Injury
- MCL Tear
- ACL Rehabilitation
- Functional Capacity Evaluation
- Vertigo Treatment
- Total Knee Replacement Physical Therapy
- Vestibular Therapy
- Concussion Treatment
Call Axes For Your Herniated Disc Treatment in Marthasville, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, our mission is to help you conquer the pain and restrictions of a herniated disc. Whether you’re looking to avoid surgery or recover after one, our expert therapists will create a personalized, scientifically backed treatment plan to restore your mobility and get you back to the activities you love. Don’t let a herniated disc slow you down—reach out to Axes Physical Therapy in Marthasville, MO now to schedule your assessment and begin your recovery journey!