Diagnosed With
a Herniated Disc?
By: Dr. Robert Duvall, DPT,
ATC, MGFI
You've
probably heard people say they have a "slipped" or "ruptured"
disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back “went
out”. What they're most likely describing is a herniated disc.
This condition is a common source of back and leg pain.
Discs
are soft cushions found between the vertebrae that make up the
spinal column (your backbone). In the middle of the spinal
column is the spinal canal, a hollow space that contains the
spinal cord. The nerves that supply the arms, leg, and torso
come from the spinal cord. The nerves from the neck supply the
arms and hands, and the nerves from the low back supply the butt
and legs. The discs between the vertebrae allow the back to move
freely and act like shock absorbers.
The
disc is made up of two main sections. The outer part (the
annulus) is made up of tough cartilage that is comprised of
series of rings. The center of the disc is a jelly-like
substance called the nucleus pulposus. A disc herniates or
ruptures when part of the jelly center pushes through the outer
wall of the disc into the spinal canal, and puts pressure on the
nerves. A disc bulge is when the jelly substance pushes the
outer wall but doesn't completely go through the wall.
What
do you feel?
Low back pain will affect four out of five people during their
lifetime. The most common symptom of a herniated disc is
“sciatica”. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often
shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back
of one leg. This is most often caused by pressure on the sciatic
nerve that exits the spinal cord. Other symptoms include:
·
Weakness in one
leg or both legs
·
Numbness and
tingling in one leg (pins & needles)
·
A burning pain
centered in the low back
·
Loss of bladder
or bowel control (seek medical attention immediately)
·
Back pain with
gradually increasing leg pain. (If you have weakness in both
legs. Seek immediate attention.)
If you are interested in learning
more about a way to get rid of the back pain and sciatica
click here to find out more about Lose the Back Pain System
for great back
pain and sciatica relief exercises, back pain information,
support and expertise to help you get rid of the back pain and
sciatica.
How
do you know you have a herniated disc?
Your
medical history is key to a proper diagnosis. A physical
examination can usually determine which nerve roots are affected
(and how seriously). A simple x-ray may show evidence of disc or
degenerative spine changes. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
is usually the best option (most expensive) to determine which
disc has herniated.
Why
do discs herniate?
Discs
are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the
age of 30), the water content decreases, so the discs begin to
shrink and lose their shape. When the disc becomes smaller the
space between the vertebrae decreases and become narrower. Also,
as the disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less
flexible.
While
aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water
in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the
primary cause of a herniation or bulge is uneven compression and
torsion that's placed on the discs.
This
uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the
spine out of its normal position and then your body is forced to
function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human
being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they
cause enough damage to create pain.
The
best treatment options
When it
comes to treating a herniated disc, there are traditional
treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation,
cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even
surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be
temporary if at all.
But the
major problem with these traditional treatments is that they
can't fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the
actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to
have a surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the
dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first
place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue
to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or
later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or
others.
Without
identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem,
which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in
muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition
and the continuous flare ups for years.
Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical
therapists don't spend time or focus on identifying the physical
dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition so most
people end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to
the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.
If you
have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if
your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you
must identify and address the physical dysfunctions that are
causing your pain as part of your recovery.
If you are interested in learning
more about a way to get rid of the back pain and sciatica
click here to find out more about Lose the Back Pain System
for great back
pain and sciatica relief exercises, back pain information,
support and expertise to help you get rid of the back pain and
sciatica.
To
learn more visit
The Healthy Back Institute website
Sciatica/Back
Pain/Herniated disc Guides
The Healthy Back Institute have
now three Back Pain advisories for you to choose from...or you could choose
all three!
Back Pain Relief Guide
Get the latest, cutting-edge information about back pain, what causes it
and how to get lasting relief. Millions of people suffer from back pain
unnecessarily - don't continue to be one of them.
-
Sciatica Gone in Just Days
Most cases of sciatica can be wiped out in just days and often with just
a handful of simple exercises and stretches... but you have to know which
exact ones YOU need to do. Learn about the 4 primary causes of sciatica, how
to find out which is causing your
pain and which treatments will work for your specific situation.
-
Herniated Disc Healing Miracles
Diagnosed with a herniated disc? Been told by your doctor that surgery is
the only option? Then you'll definitely want to read this guide because
you'll learn about the real cause of herniated discs and how to heal them
and get lasting relief without dangerous
medications or risky surgery.
To get
your free copy now follow this link!
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Copyright January 2007
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