Annular tear treatment is almost always first attempted conservatively through a variety of nonsurgical techniques designed to promote healing of the damaged spinal disc and relieve any accompanying discomfort. Once a physician has identified a damaged disc and diagnosed an annular tear — usually with the assistance of an MRI — the physician will work with the patient to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Then, the status of the condition will be monitored while the body attempts to repair it.

People of all ages are susceptible to this condition which can lead to a herniated disc. The most common causes range from regular wear associated with aging to traumatic injury. As such, treatment options for a disc tear must be tailored to the patient’s age, overall health and level of regular physical activity.

Treatment options for an annular tear

Assuming that the patient isn’t experiencing debilitating or rapidly worsening symptoms, annular tear treatment usually begins with options like rest, hot or cold compresses, over-the-counter or prescription pain medication or low-impact exercise. Some patients also attempt alternative treatments, but should stay in partnership with their primary care doctor if they do so. Additional options for annular tear treatment include:

• Deep tissue massage
• Spine alignment correction
• Hydrotherapy
• Ultrasound treatment
• Epidural injections
• Pain patches
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation treatment

Surgical treatment

In many cases, a patient is able to achieve sufficient relief through a targeted course of nonsurgical treatments over the course of several weeks. However, if the pain is unresponsive to conservative treatment, a spine specialist could recommend more advanced options, including spine surgery, to provide lasting relief from discomfort.

If you are unable to find relief through conservative therapy, contact USA Spine Care to learn about our minimally invasive spine surgery as an alternative to traditional open spine surgery. Rather than undergo a highly invasive open back surgery that requires hospitalization and a long recovery, consider the benefits of our effective outpatient procedures. Contact us today for more information on annular tear treatment.

Our team will be glad to help you receive a no-cost MRI review* to determine if you are a potential candidate for one of our procedures.