Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
UNDERSTANDING HERNIATED DISCS
ALSO INSIDE: • Treatment for Herniated Discs • Healthy Recipe • Exercise Essentials • Patient Success Spotlight
Back pain can develop for all sorts of reasons. From a car accident to bad posture, toanuncomfortableseat foraprolongedperiodof time,backpaincan comeoutofnowhereandcausenosmallamountofdiscomfortonce itarrives. Therearesomeback injuries,however, thatareevenmorepainful thanyour run- of-the-millbackpain.Aherniateddisc isoneof themostpainfulback injuries that youcanexperience,and it is farmorecommon thanyoumaybe initiallyaware. What is a Herniated Disc? Your spine is made up of a series of interlocking bones with small cushions in-between each joint socket.The structure of your spine is what allows you to move freely fromside toside.Every timeyoucrunchyourabdomenbybending forward, or lean to one side or another for a deep stretch, those little vertebral bodies move with you, keeping you comfortable and your back strong. Without cushioning inbetweeneachof thosesockets, theboneswould rubagainstone another with every movement, and this would be incredibly painful. When a disc becomes herniated, the cushioning in between the vertebrae will rupture,essentiallydeflatingthecushioning inbetweenthevertebraeandcausing thebones tobegin to rubagainstoneanother.This ispainfulenoughas it is,but can become even more painful if the herniated disc actually begins to press on
theadjacentspinalnerves,causing thepain tospreadeven furtherup thespine. Themostcommonplacement foraherniateddisc isat the lumbarvertebrae in the lower back. While it is not the only reason that pain can become severe in the lower back, it is definitely one of the most severe forms of back pain. If you suspect thatyoumayhaveexperiencedaherniateddisc it is important thatyou seek medical attention, such as from your physical therapist. A herniated disc will not heal on its own, and working with a physical therapist is one of the best ways to experience relief from the pain associated with this common concern. How Does This Happen? Thevertebrae in thespinearestackedclosely together,withonlyasmallamount of space for the discs in between each bone. A disc can become herniated as a result of injury, car accident, or even simply from overuse. One of the most common causes of a herniated disc is heavy lifting. Weightlifters have to be especially wary not to suddenly lift something too heavy, otherwise risk experiencingaslippeddisc.Butexperiencedgymgoersarenot theonlyonesat risk. Every time you attempt to move a piece of furniture, a heavy box, or even a big bag of books you need to be wary to lift correctly, otherwise face the risk of potentially herniating a disc in your back.
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