Herniated Disc Treatment Troy, 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 are experts in scientifically-backed treatments personalized to your specific needs, whether you’re suffering from minor aches or serious discomfort. Our expert physical therapy team in Troy, MO is committed to helping you heal without surgery, using individualized plans designed to alleviate discomfort, restore mobility, and get you back to the things you enjoy.
Take control of your recovery and start feeling better today with Axes Physical Therapy in Troy, MO. Request an appointment online, contact 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) protrudes through its outer layer, placing strain on nearby nerves. This condition can lead to 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 extreme cases, it can result in weakness or numbness in the limbs, rendering basic actions like walking, lifting, or even lying or sitting down difficult.
Herniated disc symptoms include:
- Pain: Acute, spreading pain in the lumbar region (lumbar herniation) or cervical area (cervical herniation), often extending 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: 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: 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: Maintaining poor posture over extended periods can add unnecessary pressure to the spine.
Addressing the issue early on is vital. At Axes Physical Therapy in Troy, MO, we carry out an in-depth assessment of your posture, mobility, reflexes, and spine health to identify the severity and exact location of the herniated disc. This enables us to develop a treatment plan tailored to your unique condition, putting you on the road to recovery quickly and effectively.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Herniated Discs in Troy, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we focus on non-surgical approaches to treating herniated discs in Troy, MO. Our goal is to alleviate pain, increase flexibility, and improve your quality of life, all while bypassing the need for surgical interventions.
The Evaluation Process
At your first consultation, the physical therapy team in Troy, MO will perform a thorough assessment to understand how the herniated disc is impacting your movement. The assessment typically involves analyzing your posture, flexibility, and how well your nerves are functioning.
- Posture analysis: Evaluating any posture misalignments that might be affecting your spine and overall 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: 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: 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: This exercise reduces disc pressure by carefully extending the spine.
- Cat-cow stretch: Improves spinal flexibility and reduces tension in the back muscles.
- Lumbar stabilization: Increases the strength of the muscles surrounding the spine, promoting stability and reducing strain on the disc.
- Hamstring stretches: Stretches the hamstrings to alleviate strain on the lower back.
- Wall sits: Helps to increase strength in the lower back and legs, aiding in posture improvement and spinal stability.
- 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: 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. Incorporating exercises such as bird-dog movements and prone extensions is essential for helping you restore control of your movements and avoid future injuries.
With our comprehensive approach, patients often see significant improvements in pain levels, mobility, and overall quality of life, all without needing 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 Troy, MO
In some cases, surgery may be needed for herniated discs, particularly when conservative treatments don’t provide relief. At Axes, we support Troy, MO patients both before and after surgery with targeted rehabilitation aimed at ensuring the best results.
Pre-Surgery Therapy:
Engaging in physical therapy before surgery helps optimize recovery after the procedure. Before surgery, we focus on achieving the following objectives:
- Maximizing mobility: We aim to strengthen and increase your mobility to ensure a quicker recovery after 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. Our recovery plans after surgery concentrate on the following:
- Rebuilding strength: Focusing on strengthening your core and spinal support muscles.
- Restoring mobility: Working to help you move freely again while reducing any discomfort.
- 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 Troy, MO, pain-free and without restrictions.
Why Choose Axes Physical Therapy for Your Herniated Disc Treatment in Troy, MO?
Our method for treating herniated discs at Axes Physical Therapy extends beyond just relieving pain. Our Troy, 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 team has extensive experience treating a wide range of spine-related issues.
- Patient-Centered Care: Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual, focusing on both their physical and emotional well-being.
- 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 Troy, 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 Troy, 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 dampen your life—reach out to Axes Physical Therapy in Troy, MO today to schedule your evaluation and start your journey to recovery!