Many people with bulging discs don’t experience any symptoms and can maintain ordinary, healthy lives. When symptoms of bulging discs do occur, it’s typically the result of the bulged disc impacting the nerves or spinal cord and those symptoms will vary based on the disc’s location. As a result, it can be challenging for people to diagnose bulged discs without the expertise of an orthopaedic doctor. However, common symptoms of bulging discs include:● Pain or muscle spasms in the lower back● Sciatica or shooting pain from the buttocks to the legs● Radiating pain in the middle or upper back● Tingling or pain in the neck, shoulders, arms and hands
In some extreme cases, bulging discs may also lead to a loss of bladder or bowel control.

Kayal Pain & Spine Center experts will initially diagnose your bulging disc based on your history and symptoms and may have the potential diagnosis corroborated by a physiotherapist. Imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan will then be used to confirm the diagnosis, providing an accurate view of the discs within your spine.

Numerous treatments are available for bulging discs and your Kayal Pain & Spine Center specialist will work with you to identify the optimal treatment for your needs. In many cases, conservative treatments that include rest, over-the-counter medication and physical therapy can alleviate the symptoms of bulging discs.

Minimally invasive surgery is also an option when conservative approaches don’t provide relief. Your Kayal Pain & Spine Center doctor may discuss laminectomy, laminotomy, disc replacement or other simple surgical procedures, depending on the location and symptoms of your bulging disc.

The most common symptom of disc degeneration will be continuous but low-grade pain around the disc. Occasionally, this can flare up into more severe pain arising from abnormal strains on the spine. However, this severe pain can sometimes arise from no obvious activity at all. These occurrences can last anywhere from a day or two to several weeks before returning to lower pain levels.

It is important to recognize disc degeneration pain can be felt in a number of ways throughout the body. Other symptoms can include an increase in pain with activities that involve bending or twisting the spine or lifting heavy objects. Muscle spasms can be a symptom, as well as an increase in back pain when sitting or standing for long periods of time. Similarly, pain in the neck when looking down can be a symptom, as can pain that feels unreasonably hot. This hot, sharp pain is often felt in shoulders, arms, hips or the back of the leg.

Degenerative disc disease is difficult to diagnose. It develops gradually and is attributed to many possible related problems. The experts at Kayal Pain & Spine Center will discuss your medical history, understand your symptoms and often perform X-rays and spinal imaging tests to find the cause of your pain. Once disc degeneration is confirmed, we will develop a specialized treatment plan. This plan will help you manage your pain and travel the road to recovery.

For many individuals, disc degeneration can be treated successfully with nonsurgical care, often consisting of medication that will control the inflammation. This medication can be taken orally or through epidural injections as is often combined with physical therapy, strengthening exercises and low-impact aerobic conditioning.

Surgical options, such as disc replacement, will usually only be considered when the patient is still experiencing pain more than six months after nonsurgical care has begun. In this case, your Kayal Pain & Spine Center specialist will discuss and recommend the best surgical approach for your pain.

Some of the symptoms you may experience with a herniated disc include:● Arm or leg pain: If your herniated disc is in your lower back, you will feel the most intense pain in your buttocks, thigh, calf and foot. If your herniated disc is in your neck, the pain will usually be concentrated in the arm and shoulder. This pain may shoot into your arm or leg if you cough, sneeze or move in a certain way.● Numbness or tingling in the affected area.● Weakness: Muscles connected to the affected nerves tend to weaken. This could cause you to fall or be unable to lift or hold everyday items.
You could also have a herniated disc without knowing it. Some people show no symptoms, but the condition will show up on a scan.

The orthopaedic team at the Kayal Pain & Spine Center specializes in herniated disc management. Our award-winning experts will direct the diagnosis and treatment of herniated discs, regardless of location and severity. We provide world-class treatment for patients in Bergen County and beyond. Diagnosis is achieved through physical examinations and imaging tools, such as X-rays, MRIs and CT scans.

If conservative treatments and physical therapy are unsuccessful, surgery may be needed to repair the disc herniation. If your herniated disc remains persistently painful, a visit to a Bergen County spine specialist is advised. With state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, the award-winning experts at the Kayal Pain & Spine Center will tailor an appropriate treatment plan for your unique case. Herniated disc management is based upon the specific herniated disc(s), along with your age, physical condition, and other medical issues.

At some time in their lives, most people will suffer from lower back pain. This pain can be due to a wide range of causes. For some lower back pain patients, there is a genetic component to their condition. Others may suffer through lower back pain brought on by a mechanical problem. Most often, lower back conditions are caused by injuries or the wear-and-tear of aging. The good news is that the majority of cases improve on their own. For pain that persists, a visit to a spine specialist is a necessity. Our orthopaedic surgeons provide expert treatment for patients with lower back pain and disorders. Diagnosis is accomplished through a combination of physical examinations and imaging tests, such as MRIs and CT scans.

After diagnosis, Dr. Kayal and his expert team can determine appropriate treatment for each patient. Conservative treatment may include rest or limited activity, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, braces, and steroidal injections. If lower back symptoms continue, surgery might be necessary.

Diagnosis is accomplished through a combination of physical examinations and imaging tools, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. These diagnostic tools provide Dr. Kayal and his team with the information needed to develop a treatment plan specific to each patient.

In minor cases, basic treatment (such as rest, stretching and anti-inflammatory drugs) may minimize neck pain. However, orthopaedic intervention may be necessary to manage more serious disorders. Our surgeons provide expert treatment for patients with neck disorders. Ideally, conservative treatments will be effective. These may include: limited or altered activity, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and exercise, bracing or neck supports, and steroidal injections. Should neck pain and immobility persist, surgical intervention may be required.

Some tell-tale signs of scoliosis are slightly uneven shoulders or one shoulder blade that protrudes more than the other. In some case, one hip may be raised higher than the other as a result of slightly uneven leg lengths. If a scoliosis S- or C-curve worsens further, the spine may twist slightly. In this case, the ribs on one side of the body will likely protrude further than the other side.

Infants with scoliosis may lie curved to one side much more frequently. However, a spinal curve can sometimes develop without you or your child realizing it because the condition can develop gradually and without pain. If you notice small curves in your child’s spine, you should schedule an appointment with the expert team at Kayal Pain & Spine Center. Our team handles every case with care and compassion but is particularly sensitive to the needs of children and their parents or guardians.

Your Kayal Pain & Spine Center specialist will thoroughly check medical history and discuss any recent growth or body changes. A physical exam will be conducted, where the child or adult patient may be asked to stand and then bend forward from the waist to determine if the rib cage protrudes more on one particular side.

A neurological check may be conducted to highlight any muscle numbness, weakness or abnormal reflexes. Imaging tests such as X-rays or an MRI may be done to confirm the scoliosis diagnosis and illustrate any underlying conditions that may be causing it.

Your doctor at Kayal Pain & Spine Center will work directly with you to determine the best treatment plan. Most children with scoliosis will have mild curvature and will usually not require surgical treatment. They may require visits to Kayal Pain & Spine Center every four to six months to monitor any changes in the spine.

Your specialist at Kayal Pain & Spine Center will recommend treatment on an individual basis. A variety of factors, including the severity, pattern and location of the curve, will be considered. If your child’s bones are still growing and his or her scoliosis is more moderate, your doctor may suggest a brace. This will not cure the scoliosis but it will prevent further progression. For more severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery. At Kayal Pain & Spine Center, our compassionate experts will spend as much time with you as needed to answer all of your questions and address all of your concerns.

Symptoms of spinal stenosis vary by the condition’s location. Spinal stenosis in the lower back is called lumbar stenosis, while spinal stenosis in the neck is called cervical stenosis. The third type of stenosis called thoracic stenosis occurs in the mid-spinal region but is much less common than lumbar and cervical stenosis.

Lumbar stenosis often presents itself with lower back and leg pain or cramping that worsens with walking. You may find that symptoms subside when laying down, sitting or bending forward, only to return when in the upright position. In some cases, tingling, numbness or weakness in a foot or leg is also a symptom of lumbar stenosis.

Cervical stenosis commonly produces neck pain and walking or balance problems. You may also experience numbness, tingling or weakness in your arm, hand, foot or leg. Bowel or bladder incontinence can also occur in progressed stages of spinal stenosis.

In the most extreme cases, either form of spinal stenosis can result in severe weakness or paralysis. Spinal stenosis tends to worsen over time.

Kayal Pain & Spine Center uses diagnostic imaging to accurately identify spinal stenosis in our patients if symptoms suggest that the condition may be present. During diagnosis, you will receive an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or combination of these, to identify the degenerative damage and narrowed spinal canal that results in spinal stenosis.

Kayal Pain & Spine Center offers several different spinal stenosis treatments and our strategy will vary depending on the extent and location of your pain. Steroid injections and physical therapy are often the first-line treatments against spinal stenosis symptoms, effectively eliminating spinal stenosis pain for many patients. However, if spinal stenosis persists, our dedicated surgeons will consider surgical options to widen the spinal canal.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms often begin in small joints such as the knuckles of the hands and the toes of the feet. The most common symptoms are pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Typically, these symptoms transpire in multiple joints throughout the body. Since this condition is a systemic disease, an affected individual may feel more diffuse symptoms including fever, loss of appetite, body tiring easily, and lumps developing near the joints.

Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis involves a thorough physical examination of the affected area and an evaluation of the patient’s medical history. The Kayal Orthopaedic Center physicians in Bergen County will look for specific physical characteristics that indicate the presence of RA. These include:● Skin. The presence of callouses indicates areas where abnormal pressure is being applied.● Joint shape. RA weakens ligaments, which causes joint deformities, such as bunions, claw toes, finger angulation, and flat feet to arise.● Flexibility. A joint’s flexibility directly relates to the stage of the condition. If the joint still has a decent level of flexibility, then the condition is in its early stages. If flexibility is limited or barely present, it’s a good indication that there has been a significant loss of cartilage and the condition has progressed.● Tenderness. To determine which joints RA has affected and the severity of treatment required, our physicians will apply pressure to specific areas to see which joints react to the pressure and which remain unbothered.There are other tests our physicians may request to further confirm the affected patient’s diagnosis, including an X-ray, a CT scan, and an MRI scan, which can be conveniently scheduled at Kayal Medical Imaging in Bergen County. A blood test is frequently utilized to test the patient’s blood for certain autoimmune markers.

Once a diagnosis has been made, Dr. Kayal and his team will assist patients, who can choose from several convenient offices in Bergen County, with deciding on treatment options. Although there is no existing cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are progressive approaches that may alleviate symptoms and slow down the progression of the condition. Conservative, non-surgical treatment measures may involve steroid injections, orthotic devices, and viscosupplementation, in which lubrication fluid is injected into the joint. Medications can also help to slow down the progression of the disease. For more severe cases, surgical options may be recommended based on our physician’s discretion. Possible surgical treatment options include:● Minimally invasive arthroscopy to remove diseased cartilage● Fusion for severely damaged joints or ligaments● Total ankle replacement to restore the ankle’s range of motion