Could I Be Suffering from a Herniated Disc?

Lower back pain has been found to be the number one cause of disability around the world. Though many conditions can cause back pain, a herniated disc is a common cause. Discs are the soft, rubber-like pads that fit between the bones (vertebrae) of the spinal column and cushion it. The discs allow the back to flex and bend and absorb shock. Herniated discs, which can also be called slipped or ruptured discs, are caused when all or part of the disc is forced through a weakened part of it, which places pressure on the nearby nerve and/or spinal cord, causing numbness, and most commonly, pain. Herniated discs can occur both in the lumbar spine (lumbar herniated disc) and the cervical spine (cervical herniated disc).

This can happen when the disc moves out of place (herniates) or breaks open (ruptures) due to injury or strain. It is most commonly found to happen in the lower back, but can also affect the neck's discs, or, even more rarely, the discs in the upper-to-middle back.

Herniated Disc Risk Factors
If you're not sure if a herniated disc is causing your pain, Orthopedic Surgeons point out a few factors that can put you more at risk:
Usually, herniated discs are caused by the natural aging of your spine. When we're young, our discs have a high water content, making them spongy. When we age, they begin to dry out, becoming weaker and narrowing the spaces between our vertebrae. This is called disc degeneration.
Men between 30-50 are more likely to have a herniated disc
Jobs or tasks that require you to repeatedly lift heavy objects can put you at risk, especially if you are lifting with your back and not your legs, or if you are twisting while you lift.
Being overweight can add stress on the discs of your lower back
If you are frequently in the car, staying seated for long periods of time along with the vibrations of the car, can put pressure on your spine and discs Staying sedentary can cause herniated discs
Smoking can reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your discs to cause more rapid degeneration

Herniated Disc Symptoms
For most people suffering from a herniated disc, lower back pain is the first symptom. The pain may come and go, but can eventually lead to leg pain, numbness or weakness. These sensations can reach all the way below the knee, to the ankle and foot.
Additionally, the symptoms can be all or one of the following:
• Back pain
• Leg and/or foot pain (sciatica)
• Numbness or tingling in the leg and/or foot
• Weakness in the leg and/or foot
If you feel like you may be suffering from a herniated disc, see your orthopedist for a physical examination or MRI scan, so they can make sure that it's the cause of your back pain. Due to a wide range of non-surgical and surgical treatments available, most patients are free from their symptoms in 3-4 months!