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ROCHESTER, MINN. -- MayoClinic.com has developed an in-depth decision guide to help people with back pain choose the treatment that fits their needs.
"A herniated disk can cause debilitating pain and choosing among various treatment options must take into account pain intensity as well as function" says Randy Shelerud, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Spine Center. "We developed this guide to help patients thoroughly compare their options and understand the pros and cons of various treatments."
Dr. Shelerud says back and leg pain caused by a herniated disk often is misunderstood. "Patients often hear the terms "ruptured disk' or "slipped disk' used to describe the cause of their pain. These terms are inaccurate, partly because they imply that the patient has done something they shouldn't have. Actually what we're talking about here is a condition related to the normal age-related changes of the disk itself. Only 10 to 15 percent of people with herniated disk symptoms have an accident or injury before their symptoms started."
The Herniated Disk Health Decision Guide contains:*An interactive animation that shows the normal functions of the spine and how disks become herniated.*How a herniated disk is diagnosed, including videos of tests a doctor may perform.*Treatment options -- surgery and nonsurgical therapy and the trade-offs involved in each.*Answers from Dr. Shelerud, covering topics such as: "What day-to-day physical activities or work activities should I avoid?" "Why is nonsurgical therapy a good option for some people?" "Are there certain times when surgery is clearly the best choice?"*Personal stories and video clips from a patient who chose non-surgical treatments and from one who had microdisk surgery, including factors that influenced their decisions.
The Herniated Disk Decision Guide is the fifth in a series of in-depth resources provided on MayoClinic.com. Previously released topics include knee injuries (ACL), children's middle ear infections, colorectal cancer and early stage breast cancer.
To find the decision guides, go to the MayoClinic.com home page and click on the words "Health Decision Guides" in the left column.
###Contact:Lee Aase507-284-5005 (days)507-284-2511 (evenings)e-mail: [email protected]
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