Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
UNDERSTANDING HERNIATED DISCS (AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM)
What Exactly is a Herniated Disc? Your spine’s intervertebral discs play an important role in keeping the vertebrae from rubbing against each other. Sometimes, though, those discs can bulge outward or rupture: what’s called a herniated disc. If the damaged disc presses against a nearby nerve root, it causes symptoms. That’s why many people develop a herniated disc and do not know it–because their herniated disc doesn’t affect any nearby nerve roots. But when a herniated disc does affect a nerve root, here’s what to expect: • Burning pain • Pain that radiates into the extremities • Numbness or tingling that radiates into the extremities • Weakness The location of your symptoms can give you a general idea of the location of your herniated disc. While any disc in the spine can herniate, herniated discs typically occur in the neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine). Cervical herniated discs will cause symptoms through your shoulder, arm, and hand. Lumbar herniated discs will cause symptoms through your lower back, buttocks, thigh, lower leg, and foot. What Causes a Herniated Disc? There are two main causes for herniated discs, and they may develop due to a blend of factors: Disc Degeneration As we get older, our intervertebral discs naturally start to dry out and become less flexible, making them more likely to tear or rupture, even with relatively minor bends or twists.
You start experiencing a sharp, burning pain in your lower back that worsens if you stay in one position too long. You’ve also noticed pain that shoots down your leg and numbness in your foot. You have no idea what’s going on, and the discomfort is starting to negatively affect your quality of life. Sound familiar? All those symptoms point to a lumbar herniated disc, a condition that affects the cushiony intervertebral discs located in your spine. Herniated discs are more common than you might think–in fact, you may have developed one without even realizing it, as they don’t always cause symptoms. But when they do cause symptoms, they can be excruciating. Fortunately, the team at Physical Therapy Specialties offers several solutions to help you resolve and prevent herniated discs. Today, we wanted to explore the basics of herniated discs, including their causes, symptoms, and effective treatment techniques. Keep reading to learn more!
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