Herniated Disc Treatment Town and Country, MO. A herniated disc can keep you from living the active life you want, but recovery is achievable with the appropriate treatment. At Axes Physical Therapy, we specialize in evidence-based treatments customized for your unique condition, whether you’re suffering from mild discomfort or serious discomfort. Our dedicated physical therapy team in Town and Country, MO focuses on supporting your healing through conservative care, using individualized plans intended to reduce pain, improve movement, and help you return to the activities you love.

Take control of your healing process and start feeling better today with Axes Physical Therapy in Town and Country, MO. Request an appointment through our website, give a call to the location nearest you, or visit any of our locations for a free injury screening.

About Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is a common condition affecting the spine, where the soft, gel-like center of a disc (the Nucleus Pulposus) pushes through its outer layer, compressing nearby nerves. This condition can cause a set of issues, 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 severe cases, it can lead to weakness or numbness in the limbs, rendering basic actions like walking, lifting, or even resting or sitting down challenging.

Herniated disc symptoms include:

• Pain: Intense, spreading pain in the lower back (lumbar herniation) or cervical area (cervical herniation), often extending to the limbs (sciatica).
• Numbness or tingling: This is commonly experienced in the arms, legs, hands, or feet due to 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: Engaging in activities or jobs that require frequent bending, twisting, or heavy lifting makes you more susceptible to disc injuries.
• Poor posture: Sitting or standing for long periods in poor postures puts additional strain on the spine.

It’s crucial to intervene early. At Axes Physical Therapy in Town and Country, MO, we conduct a thorough assessment of your posture, mobility, reflexes, and spine health to assess the severity and precise location of the herniated disc. This enables us to design a treatment plan personalized to your specific needs, putting you on the road to recovery as soon as possible.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Herniated Discs in Town and Country, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we offer non-surgical approaches to treating herniated discs in Town and Country, MO. Our aim is to reduce discomfort, increase flexibility, and enhance your daily living, all while preventing the need for invasive procedures.

The Evaluation Process

At your first consultation, the physical therapy team in Town and Country, 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: Assessing the range of motion in your spine and identifying areas where movement is restricted.
• 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: Gentle adjustments to realign the spine and relieve pressure on the nerves.
  • Myofascial release: A method focused on loosening the connective tissues around muscles and organs to ease tension and reduce discomfort.
  • Trigger point dry needling: Penetrating the skin and underlying tissue with thin, filiform needles to stimulate healing and relieve muscle tension, inflammation, and pain.

Targeted Exercises:

• Pelvic tilt: By strengthening the core, pelvic tilts help lessen pressure on the spine, leading to pain relief.
• McKenzie extension: This exercise reduces disc pressure by carefully extending the spine.
• Cat-cow stretch: Enhances spine mobility while easing tension in the muscles of the back.
• Lumbar stabilization: Builds spinal support muscles, improving stability and minimizing disc pressure.
• 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: Enhances core stability and balance, strengthening muscles around 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. Key exercises like bird-dog movements and prone extensions are critical for your recovery, as they help you regain control over your body and reduce the risk of further injury.

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

In some cases, surgery may be needed for herniated discs, particularly when conservative treatments don’t provide relief. At Axes, we help Town and Country, MO patients both before and after surgery with focused therapy aimed at ensuring the best results.

Pre-Surgery Therapy:

Engaging in physical therapy before surgery helps optimize recovery after the procedure. 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:

Post-surgery, physical therapy is crucial for restoring your strength and improving your functional abilities. Our post-surgical rehabilitation plans focus on:

• Rebuilding strength: Focusing on strengthening your core and spinal support muscles.
• Restoring mobility: Helping you regain normal movement patterns while minimizing pain.
• Preventing future injuries: By teaching you about proper posture, body mechanics, and safe ways to move.

We aim to make sure that when surgery is required, it’s as effective as possible, helping you get back to the things you love in Town and Country, MO, pain-free and without restrictions.

Why Choose Axes Physical Therapy for Your Herniated Disc Treatment in Town and Country, MO?

At Axes Physical Therapy, our approach to treating herniated discs goes beyond simple pain relief. Our Town and Country, 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: 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.

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 Town and Country, 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 Town and Country, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, our mission is to help you conquer the pain and restrictions of 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 Town and Country, MO today to schedule your evaluation and start your journey to recovery!