Your vertebral discs serve as shock absorbers, cushioning the spinal column. Not surprisingly, losing the structural support of a disc will cause pain which will intensify with movement. Occasionally, the annular tear will stimulate the transversing nerve and cause a form of pain called radiculopathy which is felt in your arms and legs.
At times, a fissure can cause an extrusion or herniation of the annulus fibrosus, a sturdy ring of fibers that contains the soft center. A herniation can place significant pressure on the nerves adjacent to the vertebrae. If herniation has occurred, you can be sure that an annular tear or an annular fissure was present.
Many annular tears will not cause any pain and will heal on their own, but some tears can be quite painful especially if they are located in the outer third of the disc’s annular ring. For patients over sixty, annular tears can also be an early sign of degenerative disc disease caused by osteoarthritis.
How is an annular tear evaluated?
A CT scan will identify nerve roots or spinal cord compression, but it may not identify edema in the disc and the tell-tale signs of fissures or tears that have not yet caused herniations which is why an MRI is most often used.
How is an annular tear treated?
An annular tear is an indicator that degenerative disc disease may be starting. There are several integrative medical techniques that reduce acute and chronic pain and slow disc degeneration.
Pain is real, but Dr. Melamed has developed a way to control it by taking a holistic approach that includes non-surgical therapies based on Integrative Medicine techniques, lifestyle optimization, and starting an anti-inflammatory diet program.
Most patients respond well to these holistic solutions, but some patients may not. If surgery is your best choice, Dr. Melamed may request additional imaging tests. He will review the most appropriate surgical options and discuss the therapeutic benefits of his Opiate-Free Surgery and Pain Management System which has helped hundreds of patients recover from back pain and avoid potential addiction problems during the recovery phase.
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Neck & Spine Specialities
Dr. Nourian has an enviable record of successfully treating the full spectrum of neck and spine problems.
Arthritis
Bulging/Herniated Discs
Disease & Disorders
Degeneration
Fractures
Infections
Injuries
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Spinal Stenosis
Stiff Neck
Tumors
General Orthopedics
Specialist in treating a wide variety of injuries and conditions that impact bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
Arthritis
Bursitis
Chronic Pain
Deformities
Disorders
Fractures
Injuries
Sprains
Strains
Tendonitis
