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What is a Herniated Disc?
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| A herniated disc is a disc that extrudes into the spinal canal. It is also referred to as a bulging disc, ruptured disc or slipped disc. As a disc degenerates, it can herniate (the inner core extrudes) back into the spinal canal. A lumbar herniated disc can cause pain to radiate all the way down the legs and into the foot. In the area of the cervical spine, the pain would radiate from the neck down the arm into the fingers. |
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| Approximately 90% of disc herniations will occur at L4- L5 (lumbar segments 4 and 5) or L5- S1 (lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment1), which causes pain in the L5 nerve or S1 nerve, respectively. Although disc herniations are most commonly diagnosed in the lumbar region, cervical herniated discs are not unheard of and occur in about 1 in 10 patients. |
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| If you are showing signs of, or suspect that your back pain is related to a herniated disc, we recommend you take a look at our symptoms page. Here you can review detailed information provided by our world-leading spine experts. |
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| Following safe practices at home and the workplace can help you avoid injuries of all kinds. The most common workplace injury occurs in the back making it important to learn which activities you should avoid and which precautions you should take to insure your back remains healthy. Our page devoted to herniated disc causes will help educate you on how you can avoid back injury. |
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Herniated Disc Symptoms
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| The weak spot in a disc is directly under the nerve root, and a herniated disc in this area puts direct pressure on the nerve. When part of a disc presses on a nerve in the lumbar region, it can cause pain in both the back and the legs. The location of the pain depends on which disc is weak. How bad the pain is depends on how much of the disc is pressing on the nerve. In most people with herniated discs, the pain spreads over the buttocks and goes down the back of one thigh and into the calf. This is commonly referred to as Sciatica. | | | | A herniated disc in the lumbar region can also cause numbness and tingling down the legs and into the feet. In the area of the cervical spine, the pain, numbness and tingling can radiate from the neck through the shoulders, down the arm and even in the fingers. | | | | A herniated disc pressing on the nerves in the spine can also cause weakness of the leg. The group of muscles that are weak depends on which nerve is being impinged. A herniated disc in the lumbar region may also cause back pain, although back pain alone (without leg pain) can have many causes other than a herniated disc. | | | | The pain from a herniated disc is usually worse when you're active and gets better when you're resting. Sitting, driving, bending forward, coughing and sneezing may make the pain worse. The pain gets worse when you make these movements because they put more pressure on the nerve. | | | | If you follow safe practices around the house and workplace you will lower the risk of injuring your back. It is extremely important to learn which activities to avoid and take precautions against. Take a moment to read the herniated disc causes below to educate yourself on the ways that you can avoid injuring your back. | | |
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Herniated Disc Causes
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| As you grow older, your discs become flatter -- less cushiony. If a disc becomes too weak, the outer part (annulus) may tear. The inside part of the disc pushes through the tear and presses on the nerves beside it. Herniated discs are most common in people in their 30's and 40's. | | | | The spine is made up of a series of connected bones called "vertebrae". The disc is a combination of strong connective tissues that hold one vertebra to the next, and acts as a cushion between the vertebrae. The disc is made of a tough outer layer called the "annulus fibrosus" and a gel-like center called the "nucleus pulposus." | | | | As you get older, the center of the disc may start to lose water content, making the disc less effective as a cushion. This may cause a displacement of the disc's center (called a herniated disc or ruptured disc) through a crack in the outer layer. This can occur in the neck (cervical region) or the back (lumbar region) and the mid back (thoracic spine). | | |
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| If you still have unanswered questions, feel free to visit our FAQ page where we answer some of the most frequently asked questions received from previous visitors. Also, feel free to contact us. |
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