Herniated Disc Treatment Scotsdale, MO. A herniated disc can keep you from living the active life you want, but recovery is possible with the appropriate treatment. At Axes Physical Therapy, we focus on evidence-based treatments personalized to your unique condition, whether you’re dealing with mild discomfort or intense pain. Our expert physical therapy team in Scotsdale, MO focuses on helping you heal through conservative care, using customized plans created to reduce pain, increase flexibility, and help you return to the life you love.
Start managing your healing process and start feeling better today with Axes Physical Therapy in Scotsdale, MO. Schedule 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) bulges out from its outer layer, causing pressure on nearby nerves. This condition can lead to a range of symptoms, including intense back pain 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 challenging.
Herniated disc symptoms include:
- Pain: Acute, shooting pain in the lower back (lumbar herniation) or neck (cervical herniation), often spreading to the limbs (sciatica).
- Numbness or tingling: It’s typical to feel numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, hands, or feet, often as a result of compressed nerves.
- 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: As we get older, our spinal discs gradually lose their natural hydration and flexibility, making them more susceptible to damage.
- Injury and improper lifting: A herniated disc can occur due to sudden injuries from sports or incorrect lifting of heavy objects.
- Repetitive movements: Jobs or activities that involve repeated bending, twisting, or lifting heavy objects increase the risk of disc injury.
- Poor posture: Sitting or standing for long periods in poor postures puts additional strain on the spine.
Early intervention is critical. At Axes Physical Therapy in Scotsdale, MO, we carry out an in-depth assessment of your alignment, movement, reflexes, and spine health to determine the severity and precise location of the herniated disc. This enables us to create a treatment plan personalized to your unique condition, putting you on the road to recovery as soon as possible.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Herniated Discs in Scotsdale, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we focus on conservative approaches to treating herniated discs in Scotsdale, MO. Our goal is to alleviate pain, increase flexibility, and enhance your daily living, all while preventing the need for surgical interventions.
The Evaluation Process
At your first consultation, the physical therapy team in Scotsdale, 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: Identifying any imbalances that may be contributing to your condition.
- 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: 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: Subtle adjustments aimed at correcting spinal misalignment and alleviating nerve compression.
- Myofascial release: A therapy used to release tightness in the fascia, leading to reduced pain and enhanced relaxation.
- Trigger point dry needling: Using thin needles to penetrate muscle tissue, trigger healing responses, and reduce inflammation, tension, and discomfort.
Targeted Exercises:
- Pelvic tilt: By strengthening the core, pelvic tilts help lessen pressure on the spine, leading to pain relief.
- McKenzie extension: Gently stretches the spine to alleviate pressure on the herniated disc.
- Cat-cow stretch: Improves spinal flexibility and reduces tension in the back muscles.
- Lumbar stabilization: Strengthens muscles supporting the spine to enhance stability and reduce stress on the disc.
- Hamstring stretches: Stretches the hamstrings to alleviate 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: Builds strength in the glutes and lower back, contributing to better spinal support and pain relief.
- Knee-to-chest stretch: Helps to gently stretch the lower back, reducing tension and providing relief in the lumbar region.
- Bird-dog exercise: Builds core stability and balance, helping to strengthen the muscles that support 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. 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.
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. We create individualized treatment plans that guarantee you recover at a comfortable and effective pace, making your healing process smooth and easy.
Pre- and Post-Surgical Rehab for Herniated Discs in Scotsdale, MO
In some cases, surgery may be needed for herniated discs, particularly when conservative treatments don’t provide relief. At Axes, we support Scotsdale, MO patients both before and after surgery with specialized rehab designed to optimize outcomes.
Pre-Surgery Therapy:
Using physical therapy to prepare for surgery can significantly improve post-surgical recovery. Our goals before surgery include:
- Maximizing mobility: Ensuring that your body is as strong and mobile as possible to support faster recovery post-surgery.
- Reducing pain and inflammation: Using therapies that can help ease discomfort in the days leading up to surgery.
Post-Surgery Therapy:
After surgery, physical therapy becomes an important part of restoring function and getting you back to full 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: Helping you regain normal movement patterns while minimizing pain.
- Preventing future injuries: Providing education on how to maintain good posture and safe body mechanics to avoid future injuries.
Our objective is to maximize the success of any necessary surgeries so you can resume your normal and enjoyable activities in Scotsdale, MO, free from pain or limitations.
Why Choose Axes Physical Therapy for Your Herniated Disc Treatment in Scotsdale, MO?
Our method for treating herniated discs at Axes Physical Therapy extends beyond just relieving pain. Our Scotsdale, MO licensed physical and occupational therapists with over 15 years of experience create personalized, comprehensive treatment plans that address both the immediate symptoms and the underlying causes of your condition.
Why Patients Trust Us:
- Experience: Our therapists have vast experience managing a variety of spinal conditions.
- Patient-Centered Care: Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual, focusing on both their physical and emotional well-being.
- Cutting-Edge Techniques: Our team employs cutting-edge techniques, including manual therapy and advanced exercise programs for herniated disc rehabilitation.
Our success stories speak for themselves, with countless patients regaining the ability to live active, pain-free lives after undergoing treatment with us.
Other services we offer in Scotsdale, MO include:
- Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment
- Running Injury
- MCL Tear
- ACL Rehabilitation
- Functional Capacity Evaluation
- Vertigo Treatment
- Vestibular Therapy
- Concussion Treatment
Call Axes For Your Herniated Disc Treatment in Scotsdale, MO
We at Axes Physical Therapy are dedicated to assisting you in overcoming the discomfort and challenges caused by a herniated disc. Our skilled therapists will develop a customized, evidence-based treatment plan to help you recover from surgery or avoid it altogether, restoring your mobility and allowing you to enjoy the things you love. Don’t let a herniated disc dampen your life—reach out to Axes Physical Therapy in Scotsdale, MO today to schedule your evaluation and start your journey to recovery!