Symptoms may occur if the herniation compresses a nerve. A herniated disk refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions disks that sit between the individual bones vertebrae that stack to make your spine. A spinal disk has a soft, jellylike center nucleus encased in a tougher, rubbery exterior annulus. Sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk, a herniated disk occurs when some of the nucleus pushes out through a tear in the annulus.
A herniated disk, which can occur in any part of the spine, can irritate a nearby nerve. Depending on where the herniated disk is, it can result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. Many people have no symptoms from a herniated disk.
Surgery is usually not necessary to relieve the problem. Most herniated disks occur in the lower back, although they can also occur in the neck. Signs and symptoms depend on where the disk is situated and whether the disk is pressing on a nerve. They usually affect one side of the body. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.
The next minute a shooting, irritating pain is plaguing your neck or back. You think it might be a herniated disk, but what exactly does that mean? One of the simplest ways to understand a herniated disk is to think about a jelly donut. You have 24 disks in your spine — ranging from the very top called the cervical spine down to the lower spin called the lumbar spine. The disks all the way up and down your spine act as shock absorbers to your movement.
The disks help hold your spine up and allows it to bend and move. The inside of the disk is the jelly in the donut, which is called the nucleus pulposus. Now imagine that the donut has a hole somewhere in it and you press down. The spine houses the nervous system which communicates to the rest of the body through a complex connection of nerves, and when the spine or its connective tissues are damaged then the nervous system can be impacted.
When a herniated disc puts significant pressure on a nerve, it can lead to significant damage by cutting off nerve impulses. Compressed nerves can lead to significant conditions, including loss of sensation in lower extremities or even loss of bowel control.
The sooner you seek medical treatment for a herniated disc, the more likely your spine specialist can provide you with non-surgical treatment options. On your first visit, your doctor will want to get a clear picture of the affected area through a variety of diagnostic imaging tools such as X-rays and CT scans.
An X-ray will provide your spine specialist with a greater understanding of any damage to the spine, while a CT scan will identify any soft tissue damage in addition to the spinal damage. If you have back pain that has started to radiate into the lower body, legs and feet, or radiates out into the shoulders, arms, and hands, contact a spine specialist as soon as possible. Depending on the location and severity of a herniated disc, your doctor will likely want to begin with a more conservative approach to treatment, from at-home care to mild treatment interventions from a spine specialist, chiropractor, and even physical therapist.
Our team at AICA Orthopedics can help you identify your back pain, no matter what stage it is in, and help you get on the path to healing. Certain motions may also cause a slipped disc. A disc can slip out of place while you are twisting or turning to lift an object. Lifting a very large, heavy object can place great strain on the lower back, resulting in a slipped disc. If you have a very physically demanding job that requires a lot of lifting, you may be at increased risk for slipped discs.
Overweight individuals are also at increased risk for a slipped disc because their discs must support the additional weight. Weak muscles and a sedentary lifestyle may also contribute to the development of a slipped disc. As you get older, you are more likely to experience a slipped disc. This is because your discs begin to lose some of their protective water content as you age. As a result, they can slip more easily out of place. They are more common in men than women.
Your doctor will first perform a physical exam. They will be looking for the source of your pain and discomfort. This will involve checking your nerve function and muscle strength, and whether you feel pain when moving or touching the affected area. Your doctor also will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms. They will be interested in when you first felt symptoms and what activities cause your pain to worsen.
Imaging tests can help your doctor view the bones and muscles of your spine and identify any damaged areas. Examples of imaging scans include:. Your doctor can combine all these pieces of information to determine what is causing your pain, weakness, or discomfort.
An untreated, severe slipped disc can lead to permanent nerve damage. In very rare cases, a slipped disc can cut off nerve impulses to the cauda equina nerves in your lower back and legs. If this occurs, you may lose bowel or bladder control.
Another long-term complication is known as saddle anesthesia. In this case, the slipped disc compresses nerves and causes you to lose sensation in your inner thighs, the back of your legs, and around your rectum. While the symptoms of a slipped disc may improve, they also can worsen. Treatments for a slipped disc range from conservative to surgical.
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