Suffering From Herniated Disc Pain?

With over 3 million cases in the United States per year, herniated disc pain is very common, especially in adults over 40 years old. A herniated disc refers to a tear in one of the cushions between the bones of your spine known as Intervertebral Discs. A intervertebral disc is made up of a soft center protected by a  series of tough cartilage rings. Herniated discs occur when the soft center pushes out through a tear in the cartilage rings. Herniated discs often start out as a bulging disc but tear due to the pressure. It may also be called a ruptured or slipped disc. They most frequently occur in your lower back and in your neck. A herniated disc can damage spinal nerves resulting in severe back or neck pain, numbness in your legs or arms, tingling, burning, sciatica or weakness in an arm or leg.

What Causes A Herniated Disc?

There are many causes of herniated discs.  Trauma and degenerative change are two major causes. As you get older, the water content in your spinal discs decreases, making them less flexible and prone to tearing or rupturing.  Car accidents, falls, sports injuries or improper lifting can also cause herniated discs in the neck and lower back.

Many people are not able to determine an exact cause of their herniated discs. It could be as simple as using back muscles instead of your legs to lift a heavy object. However, there are a few risk factors. Excess weight can cause more stress on the discs in your lower back. An individual’s occupation may also increase the risk if it requires a lot of heavy lifting, twisting, and turning. Finally, genetics could be to blame.  Whatever the cause may be, this is a painful progressive condition that will get worse over time if it is not treated properly.

Common Herniated Disc Symptoms?

Some individuals may not experience any herniated disc symptoms other than lower back pain or neck pain. Nonetheless, there are a few signs to look out for:

• Arm or leg pain
  • Depending on the location of the herniated disc, you may feel pain in your shoulders, arms, legs, buttocks, or feet. Coughing or sneezing may intensify the pain.
• Tingling or numb sensation in your legs, arms hands and feet
  • If your nerves are damaged due to a herniated disc, you may experience excruciating pain.
• Weakness
  • The herniated disc may compress a nerve controlling muscles causing the muscle to atrophy, or get smaller and weaker.