Often, annular tears will heal on their own when given sufficient time
. In the meantime, your doctor may prescribe pain medications, such as ibuprofen, or steroid injections into the disc to relieve inflammation.
How serious is an annular tear?
In some cases, annular tears cause no pain or symptoms, and you may not know you have one. However,
repeated pressure on a torn, damaged disc can cause a more severe tear
. Torn discs can cause further complications, like a bulging disc or disc herniation.
Is an annular tear permanent?
Although an annular tear will normally heal itself over time
, it is susceptible to future weakness and tears causing some sufferers to seek the help of doctors or surgeons.
How do you repair an annular tear?
Some annular tears can be sealed with a laser procedure
. Other minimally invasive surgery options include a discectomy, total disc replacement, or spinal fusion. Minimally invasive surgery requires smaller incisions, causes less muscle and tendon damage and results in less post-op pain and stiffness.
When does an annular tear require surgery?
Annular tear surgery is usually only recommended
after conservative treatment has failed to provide relief
. There are a few different ways surgeons attempt to solve annular tears. Using a laser to seal the tear. Spinal fusion, which fuses two or more vertebrae together to stop movement.
How do you heal an annular tear naturally?
Most annular tears improve and heal over time with
rest, spine-specialized physical therapy, and over the counter anti-inflammatories
. In some situations symptoms may warrant prescription strength anti-inflammatories or possible pain or muscle relaxant medication.
Is an annular tear a herniated disc?
Although a herniated disc is different than annular tear,
an annular tear can signal the start of a herniated disc
. Once an annular tear occurs, either as a result of aging or injury, the fluid inside of the disc will move and build until it eventually bursts.
How common are annular tears?
However, although spinal discs are built to take on the stress placed on the spine, they can easily develop tears, known as annular tears. In fact,
just about everyone who has aged beyond their teen years likely has annular tears
.
Is an annular tear the same as a bulging disc?
When discussing the difference between an annular tear vs herniated disc, it’s important to note that these two conditions are actually connected.
Herniated discs occur as a result of annular tears
and the pain associated with herniated discs is actually caused by leaking as a result of annular tears.
What aggravates an annular tear?
Positions that add pressure to the disc such as sitting with a slouched posture
tend to aggravate the symptoms. Other activities such as coughing, sneezing or lifting cause a transient increase in the pressure inside the disc that may also aggravate the back pain associated with annular tears.
How do you sleep with an annular tear?
If you must sleep on your stomach,
put a pillow under your hips and knees
to maintain the proper curvature of the spine and relieve the pressure on the herniated disc. Better alternatives are sleeping on your side or back.
What is annular tear L5 S1?
The annular tear is
a tearing of the disc external surface that may occur with the aging process or with injury
. The L4-5 and L5-S1 discs are the most commonly affected. The annulus may thin or bulge or weaken to the point that disc material may extrude into the spinal canal.
Does annular fissures hurt?
Most annular fissures are asymptomatic, but
some may be painful
. Typically, simple symptomatic annular fissures without disc herniation are treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and low-impact physical therapy.
Can an annular tear cause leg pain?
Painful Spine Problem Can Be Effectively Treated
Annular tears can cause fluid to leak out of vertebral discs of the spine, irritating nearby nerves, causing significant pain, numbness, and tingling in the back, neck or legs
.
Can a slip and fall cause an annular tear?
Accidents and injuries that can cause an annular disc tear include, but are not limited to: Car accidents.
Slip and fall accidents
.
Can an annular tear cause hip pain?
Patients with annular tears often have pain arising from the disc as well as the facet joints.
They may also have many other pain generators like the bursa of the hip, the SI joint, the muscles, etc
. An annular tear can leak chemicals on the nerve root causing nerve root pain which causes low back and leg pain.
