A herniated (slipped) disk occurs when all or part of a disk in the spine is forced through a weakened part of the disk. This may place pressure on nearby nerves.

Disks themselves do not "slip" per se. The disks are the shock absorbers of the spine and are surrounded by a thick fibrous layer. In some people either due to a certain activity or sometimes spontaneously this thick fibrous layer gets a tear. This allows some of the softer jelly like portion of the disk to herniate out.

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Programs + Services

Spine Center

The professionals from the Spine Center at Tufts Medical Center evaluate, diagnose, and treat various neck, back, and spine conditions. Our goal is to minimize pain and restore your quality of life.
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Pain Management Center

The Tufts MC Pain Management Center in downtown Boston specializes in eliminating or reducing chronic pain (particularly in the back and neck) and cancer pain.
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Herniated discs: The basics

Learn from Dr. Safain, a neurosurgeon at Tufts Medical Center, about what causes herniated discs and what can be done to prevent this.
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Wilfred L. Hynes, MD

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Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Director, Pain Clinic; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6208
Fax #: 617-636-9993

Anesthesiology, pain management

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James Kryzanski, MD

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Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Chief, Division of Epilepsy Surgery; Co-Chief, Division of Spine Surgery; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Neurosurgery
Appt. Phone: 617-636-8585
Fax #: 617-636-7587

Epilepsy neurosurgery, skull base surgery, pituitary surgery, neurovascular surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, neurosurgical disorders in patients with achondroplasia, neurosurgical disorders in patients with Down syndrome

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Ron I. Riesenburger, MD

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Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Director, Spine Center; Co-Chief, Division of Spinal Surgery; Neurosurgeon; Associate Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Neurosurgery
Appt. Phone: 617-636-8484
Fax #: 617-636-7587

Minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal deformity and scoliosis, complex and reconstructive spine surgery, pinched nerves, sciatica, spinal stenosis, disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, spinal tumors, radiculopathy, and myelopathy

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