Acute disc herniation is a sudden rupture of a spinal disc that can cause severe, debilitating pain and neurological symptoms requiring prompt evaluation.
Cervical Disc Herniation
- Severe neck pain radiating to the arm
- Numbness or weakness in the hand
- In severe cases, spinal cord compression
Lumbar Disc Herniation
- Severe sciatica (leg pain)
- Difficulty walking or standing
- In rare cases, cauda equina syndrome (emergency)
Emergency Warning Signs
Seek immediate care for loss of bladder or bowel control, progressive weakness in both legs, or saddle numbness.
Treatment Options
- Emergency evaluation and advanced imaging
- Conservative management for most cases
- Microdiscectomy for persistent or severe symptoms
- ACDF for cervical herniations with cord compression
Common Symptoms
- Sudden severe neck or back pain
- Pain radiating down arm or leg
- Numbness or tingling
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty walking
- Loss of bladder/bowel control (emergency)
Treatment Options
Urgent neurological evaluation
Anti-inflammatory medications
Epidural steroid injections
Microdiscectomy
ACDF surgery
Dr. Marcus Stephens and Dr. Jerry Walters II
Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
Providing expert acute cervical and lumbar disc herniation treatment at Nova Brain and Spine of GA in Hampton, Georgia. Serving patients throughout Southern Georgia and the Atlanta metro area.