Herniated Disc Treatment Mehlville, MO. A herniated disc can keep you from living the active life you want, but healing is within reach with the right approach. At Axes Physical Therapy, we are experts in evidence-based treatments personalized to your unique condition, whether you’re suffering from slight pain or serious discomfort. Our committed physical therapy team in Mehlville, MO specializes in helping you heal non-surgically, using individualized plans created to reduce pain, improve movement, and help you return to the activities you love.

Start managing your recovery and start feeling better today with Axes Physical Therapy in Mehlville, MO. Make an appointment online, call the location nearest you, or come to 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) bulges out from its outer layer, causing pressure on nearby nerves. This condition can cause a range of symptoms, including sharp pain in the back or neck pain, as well as pain radiating into the arms or legs depending on the affected area of the spine. In advanced cases, it can even cause weakness or numbness in the limbs, making simple activities like walking, lifting, or even lying or sitting down hard to perform.

Herniated disc symptoms include:

• Pain: Acute, shooting 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: If you notice reduced strength in your arms or legs, it could point to a more significant compression of the nerves.

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: Repeated movements like bending, twisting, or heavy lifting in certain jobs or activities heighten the chances of a disc injury.
• Poor posture: Prolonged poor posture, whether sitting or standing, can lead to extra stress on the spine.

It’s crucial to intervene early. At Axes Physical Therapy in Mehlville, MO, we carry out an in-depth assessment of your posture, mobility, reflexes, and spinal health to assess the severity and precise location of the herniated disc. This helps us develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs, getting you started on your healing journey as soon as possible.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Herniated Discs in Mehlville, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we focus on conservative approaches to treating herniated discs in Mehlville, MO. Our aim is to reduce discomfort, restore mobility, and improve your quality of life, all while avoiding the need for surgical interventions.

The Evaluation Process

At your first consultation, the physical therapy team in Mehlville, MO will perform a thorough assessment to understand how the herniated disc is impacting your movement. This includes assessing various factors like posture, range of motion, and nerve function.

• Posture analysis: Assessing your posture to find imbalances that could be causing or worsening your herniated disc.
• Spine mobility tests: Evaluating how well your spine moves to determine any restrictions in mobility.
• Nerve function testing: Testing nerve function to detect possible compression or damage leading to symptoms like numbness or tingling.

Key Treatment Techniques:

• Manual Therapy: With manual therapy, our licensed specialists work directly on your soft tissues and joints to alleviate pain and tension, while helping to enhance your spine’s flexibility. This can involve:
  • Spinal mobilization: Subtle adjustments aimed at correcting spinal misalignment and alleviating nerve compression.
  • 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: Using thin needles to penetrate muscle tissue, trigger healing responses, and reduce inflammation, tension, and discomfort.

Targeted Exercises:

• Pelvic tilt: This exercise builds core strength, which helps reduce spinal pressure and ease discomfort.
• McKenzie extension: Gently stretches the spine to alleviate pressure on the herniated disc.
• Cat-cow stretch: Enhances spine mobility while easing tension in the muscles of 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: Builds strength in the legs and lower back, promoting better posture and spinal support.
• Bridges: This exercise targets the glutes and lower back, offering additional support to the spine and alleviating discomfort.
• Knee-to-chest stretch: Eases tension in the lower back by gently stretching the lumbar area, offering relief.
• Bird-dog exercise: Builds core stability and balance, helping to strengthen the muscles that support the spine.

Progressive Treatment Plan

As your recovery progresses, we move from passive therapies, such as manual therapy, to more active treatments that focus on building strength and enhancing spinal health. Exercises like bird-dog movements and prone extensions become key components of your recovery, helping you regain control over your movements and prevent further injury.

Thanks to our all-encompassing approach, many patients enjoy improvements in pain, movement, and their overall quality of life, avoiding surgery altogether. 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 Mehlville, MO

Although most herniated disc cases can be addressed without surgery, some severe cases or persistent symptoms may require surgical intervention. At Axes, we support Mehlville, MO patients both before and after surgery with specialized rehab designed to optimize outcomes.

Pre-Surgery Therapy:

Preparing for surgery through physical therapy can enhance your recovery afterward. The primary aims of pre-surgical therapy are:

• Maximizing mobility: Ensuring that your body is as strong and mobile as possible to support faster recovery post-surgery.
• Reducing pain and inflammation: Providing treatments to lower pain and reduce inflammation before surgery to improve comfort.

Post-Surgery Therapy:

Following surgery, physical therapy plays a key role in helping you regain function and rebuild strength. We design post-surgical rehab plans with a focus on:

• Rebuilding strength: Primarily targeting the core muscles and other muscles that support your spine.
• Restoring mobility: Working to help you move freely again while reducing any discomfort.
• Preventing future injuries: Through education on posture, body mechanics, and safe movements.

Our objective is to maximize the success of any necessary surgeries so you can resume your normal and enjoyable activities in Mehlville, MO, free from pain or limitations.

Why Choose Axes Physical Therapy for Your Herniated Disc Treatment in Mehlville, MO?

At Axes, we believe in addressing more than just the pain when treating herniated discs. In Mehlville, MO, our licensed physical and occupational therapists bring 15+ years of expertise to crafting customized plans that address not only your symptoms but also the deeper issues causing your condition.

Why Patients Trust Us:

• Experience: Our therapists have vast experience managing a variety of spinal conditions.
• Patient-Centered Care: Every treatment plan is personalized to the individual, ensuring that both their physical and emotional health are prioritized.
• Cutting-Edge Techniques: We use the latest in therapy techniques, from manual manipulation to advanced exercise regimens designed for herniated disc recovery.

The success of our patients, many of whom have regained full mobility and live pain-free, speaks volumes about the quality of care we provide.

Other services we offer in Mehlville, 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 Mehlville, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we are committed to helping you overcome the pain and limitations caused by 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. Take control of your life again—contact Axes Physical Therapy in Mehlville, MO today to schedule your evaluation and begin your path to recovery!