Herniated disc clinic Munich

Conservative, minimally invasive and surgical treatments at the spine center
Munich East

A sharp pain in the back, numbness in the legs, or an unpleasant tingling in the fingers: The symptoms that can indicate a herniated disc are varied and rarely clear at first glance. However, the more severe the symptoms, the sooner you should see a doctor or visit a clinic in Munich to have the herniated disc examined. This not only helps alleviate unnecessary pain but also prevents further damage.

Herniated disc: Causes and treatment options

A herniated disc usually occurs in middle age and has a variety of underlying causes, often multiple, including a certain predisposition through heredity or significant wear and tear due to physical exertion. You may not even notice a mild herniated disc or may interpret it as vague "back pain".

However, simply "sitting out" such pain is the worst possible form of treatment. Even with mild pain, the body typically tries to avoid it. This can lead to muscle tension, postural problems, and a significant reduction in quality of life.

The cause of a herniated disc is the tissue contained within the intervertebral disc, which is forced into the spinal canal. This is perceived as particularly unpleasant and painful when it presses on a nerve. This trigger distinguishes a herniated disc from pain originating from the sciatic nerve or from lumbago. For laypeople, the difference is particularly difficult to discern when the herniated disc manifests itself in the lower back.

Herniated discs are generally treatable. For mild symptoms, conservative therapies with pain medication and physical therapy exercises are effective. Minimally invasive procedures allow even more severe impairments to be treated directly at the site of the problem. Surgery is only necessary and advisable when this is no longer possible due to advanced instability or when nerve roots are at risk.

Dr. med. Samer Ismail

✉ info@wz-muenchenost.de

☎ +49 89 420 45 017

Since 2012, we have been certified as a highly specialized spine center throughout Germany and at the WZMO we treat all acute and chronic diseases and pain conditions of the spine.

Conservative therapies for a herniated disc: Munich Clinic
Munich East Spine Center

„The word "conservative" literally means "to preserve" or "to maintain." In medicine, conservative therapy refers to treatment without surgery. Elements of conservative therapy for herniated discs include pain relief combined with gentle exercise therapy and, if necessary, manual therapies.

Pain relief is achieved through the administration of painkillers – from classic painkillers and suppositories to injections. In addition, heat and movement to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles are helpful in the conservative treatment of herniated discs. However, traditional bed rest should be avoided, as should strenuous activity and jerky movements.

Experience shows that simple herniated discs heal within four to six weeks with conservative therapies. If this is not the case, or if you experience more severe symptoms that significantly impair your life, other forms of therapy should be considered. An initial assessment at our spine center is carried out using imaging techniques such as MRI and a detailed medical history, allowing us to select the best possible treatment option for you from the outset.

Minimally invasive therapies for herniated discs in Munich at the WZMO

If conservative therapy proves insufficient, but surgery is deemed premature, minimally invasive surgery is usually the optimal treatment for herniated discs. This involves inserting a video catheter into the spinal canal through an opening in the sacrum. Based on the transmitted images, the neurosurgeon can then gain a comprehensive understanding of the nature of the damage, precisely locate it, and initiate targeted therapies accordingly.

For example, pain in inflamed nerve roots can be gently soothed, medication can be delivered precisely to the source of the pain, and excess tissue can be suctioned away. Even the "shrinking" of herniated discs is possible. Unlike surgery, the minimally invasive treatment of herniated discs at the clinic in Munich requires neither general anesthesia nor an overnight stay.

Surgical treatment for herniated discs

A herniated disc is unpleasant and often very painful, but it is neither life-threatening nor does it necessarily lead to chronic pain. Surgery aimed at fusing the disc or replacing it with an artificial one should therefore only be considered in rare cases where conservative or minimally invasive therapies are ineffective.

For you as a patient, this certainly does not mean that your treatment will be based on trial and error. As a specialized center for spinal medicine, and therefore also for herniated discs, we have the expertise and technical equipment to quickly make a well-founded assessment that is in your best interest.
Therefore, if the wear and tear is already highly advanced, several intervertebral discs are damaged, or if there are risky accompanying symptoms, we will inform you immediately and advise you to undergo surgical therapy.

Surgical treatments for acute herniated discs can also be performed minimally invasively. The difference lies in the fact that the necessary surgical instruments are inserted through an incision in the back. This allows tissue to be removed, reduced, and/or aspirated. Examples of the tools used include:

Endoscopes

Injections

Laser cannulas

Bio syringes

plasma

PRP Hydrogel

Suction cannulas

Routine surgical procedures usually take no longer than half an hour and can be performed under local anesthesia.

More extensive procedures, however, require general anesthesia and a hospital stay of several days. This is the case when spinal fusion is necessary for stabilization or when artificial titanium discs need to be implanted.

New patients are also welcome: Your Center for Spinal Medicine in Munich

Are you looking for a clinic in Munich due to a herniated disc? At our spine center, you will be welcomed by a friendly and exceptionally well-organized team and receive expert advice and treatment from specialists in neurosurgery. To offer you the best possible therapy, we first take a detailed medical history and understand the progression of your symptoms. Therefore, it is important to gather this information beforehand.

a comprehensive anamnesis interview

The identification of pre-existing conditions, for example, using existing X-rays or diagnoses from your family doctor. Please bring along any documents you have available.

the use of imaging techniques (MRI)

If necessary, the use of electroneurography and lumbar puncture

Are you most afraid of the "tube"? Don't worry, we completely understand. Many patients initially feel uneasy when a CT scanner is used. At our practice in Munich, we therefore use state-of-the-art technology that not only offers you more space than other machines, but also allows you to relax while listening to music or watching videos. And a friendly smile and an encouraging word are always part of our daily routine.

Acute disc problems? Need advice? We're ready!

Are you already experiencing pain and suspect a herniated disc? Then don't wait too long, contact us as soon as possible. Book your appointment online or call us during our office hours.

You have no acute symptoms, but occasionally need a specialist in spinal medicine? We would be happy to accept you as a new patient and conduct an initial consultation so that we already know each other in case of an emergency and can treat you immediately.

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