Herniated Disc
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Herniated Disc
Diagnosed With a Herniated Disc?
Get the facts on what really causes it and how to get relief
What is a herniated disc?
You’ve probably heard people say they have a “slipped” or “ruptured” disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back “went out”. What they’re most likely describing is a herniated disc. This condition is a common source of back and leg pain.
Discs are soft cushions found between the vertebrae that make up the spinal column (your backbone). In the middle of the spinal column is the spinal canal, a hollow space that contains the spinal cord. The nerves that supply the arms, leg, and torso come from the spinal cord. The nerves from the neck supply the arms and hands, and the nerves from the low back supply the butt and legs. The discs between the vertebrae allow the back to move freely and act like shock absorbers.
The disc is made up of two main sections. The outer part (the annulus) is made up of tough cartilage that is comprised of series of rings. The center of the disc is a jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. A disc herniates or ruptures when part of the jelly center pushes through the outer wall of the disc into the spinal canal, and puts pressure on the nerves. A disc bulge is when the jelly substance pushes the outer wall but doesn’t completely go through the wall.
What do you feel?
Low back pain will affect four out of five people during their lifetime. The most common symptom of a herniated disc is “sciatica”. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. This is most often caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve that exits the spinal cord. Other symptoms include:
• Weakness in one leg or both legs
• Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)
• A burning pain centered in the low back
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek medical attention immediately)
• Back pain with gradually increasing leg pain.
(If you have weakness in both legs. Seek immediate attention.)
How do you know you have a herniated disc?
Your medical history is key to a proper diagnosis. A physical examination can usually determine which nerve roots are affected (and how seriously). A simple x-ray may show evidence of disc or degenerative spine changes. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is usually the best option (most expensive) to determine which disc has herniated.
Why do discs herniate?
Discs are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the age of 30), the water content decreases, so the discs begin to shrink and lose their shape. When the disc becomes smaller the space between the vertebrae decreases and become narrower. Also, as the disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less flexible.
While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the primary cause of a herniation or bluge is uneven compression and torsion that’s placed on the discs.
This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of it’s normal position and then your body is forced to function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create pain.
The best treatment options
When it comes to treating a herniated disc, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary if at all.
But the major problem with these traditional treatments is that they can’t fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have a surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.
Without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition and the continuous flare ups for years.
Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists don’t spend time or focus on identifying the physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition so most people end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.
If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you must identify and address the physical dysfunctions that are causing your pain.
About the Author: For more information on herniated discs and how to treat them effectively, read the latest Back Pain Advisory from The Healthy Back Institute. You can get a free copy of it here: http://www.losethebackpain.com/herniateddisc.html
This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.
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Tags: Back Pain, herniated disc
I have lower back pain. When the pain is realy bad I also experiendce sharp nerve pain down my legs all the way to the bottoms of my feet.
An MRI reveal a large buldge in L5 and a small buldge in L4.
I’ve had 10 sergeries for other health issues and do not wish to have another surgery.
What other type of treatment/doctor is advised? Some friends have recommended a Chiroprator. I don’t know why but that word scares me.
Please advise!
Look into a McKenzie certified physical therapist. Depending on your symptoms and how to respond to their evaluation they should be able to give to simple exercises that can help you control your pain. They can also tell you within about 2 weeks if what they are doing will help you.
Please help i have 5 herniated discs in my neck and to in my lower back i am suffering all the time its so hard to hold my head up and sometimes move iam at my wits end i have seen nero surgens and have gotten nowhere
my sister is admitted in the hospital the result shows EARLY SPONDILOTIE Changes are noted in the celvical and lumbar spine. there is a small postiriar disc herniation at L5/S1. Doctors have adviced for surgery please advice what does this mean
I was told several years ago I had a bulge at C-5. Recently, I have had numbness return to both my thumbs and loosing sensation to feel in my left hand. Those symptoms I did have before the scary thing is now I feel numbness in my chest and sometimes have difficulty breathing. The numbness is in my upper chest right above my breast. I have no support system at home and no insurance I really need help but I’m worried and don’t know where to turn. Please give me some advice .Thanks
After Mri shows L-3/L4 disc’s are herniated with a pinched nerve at or near L-4, also stenosis in L-5.
What proceedure would be used and why?
Ok, I have a work injury L2,L3,L4, L5 is pinched
What excersize can I do???? I have cut out all the fat and the sugar… Now I need to trim the waist I don’t have a clue as to what I can do. My Drs just want to fuse my back together…
I think NOT!!!!! I live with pain for the past three yrs and I just want to lose some weight. I have gained 75 lbs since I got hurt. I am going to try Spinal Decompression as soon as I can afford it.. But until then what excersize can I do….
John, Spinal fusion is a door that you walk through that you can never back through. For that reason it is risky at best. If a patient is fused in a painful position it will stay painful that way. Further, the added stress placed on the adjacent discs will likely end up causing them to herniate too. As far a stretches go you should be careful as they could benefit or harm. It would be best to seek the advice of a Physical Therapist or Chiropractor who is well versed in how to stretch and not exacerbate the underlying disc condition. Basically you want to make sure the hamstrings, gluts and psoas muscles are limber which can take tremendous stress off the low back. Good luck!
I have a large herniated dics at L2 an another they didnt tell me where, also 2 bulging disc and a twisted verabra. I have no pain in my legs but lots of numbnessand tingling in my leg and foot.My doctor tells me this is not causing my problem. HELP
has anyone ever had a bilateral tfi for disc herniation. L4/5
I had surgery on my C-4&5 it was fused in Oct08
I have had nothing but problems since
I can work or sleep been work on
SS disablty
Can anyone help??
i have major problems with L1,L2,L4,L5 & S1
)
if you have access to a pool, can i sugest you spend half an hour once or twice a week just walking around in the water (waist high). it strengthens the mussels in the back and i found it does help. good luck all