Dr. Warren J. Bleiweiss Blogs

Herniated Discs in Athletes: Prevention and Treatment

Herniated Discs in Athletes - Alternative Disc Therapy

As an athlete, you understand the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle. However, with the demands of intense training and competition comes an increased risk of injury, specifically herniated discs.

A herniated disc is a common injury among athletes and can lead to significant pain and lost time on the field or court. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to prevent a herniated disc from occurring, and effective treatments are available to get you back to the activities you love if they do.

Causes of Herniated Discs in Athletes

A herniated disc can occur when the soft inner portion of a spinal disc protrudes through the tough outer layer. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including sudden trauma, repetitive motion, or degenerative changes due to wear and tear over time.

For athletes, the repetitive force and impact of certain activities can be a significant factor in developing a herniated disc. Sports that require twisting, bending, or flexing of the spine, such as football, basketball, tennis, and golf, are among the most common culprits. Improper technique or overuse can also contribute to developing herniated discs in athletes.

Prevention Techniques

Although not always preventable, there are measures athletes can take to reduce their risk of a herniated disc:

  • Athletes should engage in spinal stabilizing exercises such as those found in core training to strengthen the muscles that support the spine
  • Maintaining a healthy weight can also go a long way in preventing spinal injuries
  • Staying hydrated and incorporating stretching and flexibility exercises can also reduce the risk of disc-related problems

Treatment Options

If you suspect you are suffering from a herniated disc, a visit with a regenerative medicine doctor is highly recommended. Common symptoms may include:

  • Pain that occurs on one side of your body
  • Sharp pain in one part of your leg, hip, or buttocks and numbness in other parts
  • Pain when moving your neck
  • Deep pain near or over your shoulder blade
  • Pain that feels worse after standing or sitting, when bending backward or walking more than a few yards, or when sneezing, coughing, or laughing

While surgery has traditionally been the primary treatment used to address herniated discs in athletes, there are now newer, less invasive treatment options. Rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed initially, but regenerative medicine offers less invasive treatments that can achieve more durable relief.

Pain management options such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, or stem cell therapy can help to stimulate the healing and regrowth of the damaged tissue. These therapies can be administered on an outpatient basis with little downtime.

Herniated Disc Doctor Near Me in Caldwell, New Jersey

At the offices of Warren J. Bleiweiss, MD, our team offers natural healing alternatives in addition to traditional treatments, helping athletes heal from injuries with minimally invasive procedures.

Regenerative treatment options are available at Alternative Disc Therapy under the care of triple board-certified Dr. Bleiweiss, a leading expert in North America in treating disc herniations with ozone injection therapy.

Ozone disc injections are considered one of the best treatment options for herniated discs because they eliminate the need for surgery, are an outpatient procedure, and have minimal downtime.

By shrinking the herniated portion of the disc, ozone injections work to relieve the pressure on your spinal nerve that is causing pain. A significant difference between ozone disc injection therapy and surgery is that these injections do not alter the anatomy of the disc in any way. Also, unlike surgery, ozone actually improves the long-term health of the disc by:

  • Stimulating the cells in the outer covering of the disc to multiply, potentially repairing the tear that is present with all herniations
  • Signaling your body’s stem cells to mobilize to the area
  • Improving the cells’ ability to cope with oxidative stress
  • Reducing inflammation
  • Improving blood flow to the area
  • Increasing lymphatic drainage

Typically, patients with Alternative Disc Therapy only require one treatment with an ozone disc injection to experience dramatic pain reduction or complete relief for herniated discs. What’s more, the relief from the procedure is sustained for a prolonged period of time. If the initial treatment is only partially successful, it can be repeated by Dr. Bleiweiss with a positive accumulative effect. However, the need to repeat the procedure is not common.

To learn more about herniated disc prevention and non-surgical treatment, contact us today at (973) 403-3334. To schedule an in-office or virtual consultation with Dr. Bleiweiss, you can use our convenient interactive request an appointment form. Either way, we look forward to hearing from you and setting you on the path to renewed health and athletic activity.