Signs and Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

Did you know the spine is made up of 33 bones and cushioned by soft, pillow-like discs?  The design of our spine is very intricate, and one wrong move can cause searing pain, especially as you get older. 

If you experience back pain and are looking for relief, you're not alone.  Back pain is one of the most commonly treated conditions today!  But there are a lot of things that can cause it, some more serious than others. 

So how do you know if you have mild back pain or a more serious problem, like a herniated disc?  A herniated disc occurs when the gel-filled center of a cushioning disc pushes outside of its rubber-like outer shell called the annulus. a portion of the rubbery disc pushes through a tear in the annulus. 

Symptoms can vary based on the person and which disc has ruptured, but here are some common ones to keep an eye on.

Lumbar Herniated Disc Symptoms

The lumbar spine refers to the lower back. It's also the most common area of the spine for a herniated disc. It's much less common for a disk to rupture in the upper back. If you have one or more of these symptoms, there is a chance you have a herniated lumbar disc:

• Sciatic nerve pain — pain running down the back of the leg, caused by the gel filling of the disc irritating the sciatic nerve
• Tingling in the leg, foot, or toes.
• Numbness — sometimes radiating down the leg and into the foot
• Sharp, electric-like pain
• Leg and lower back pain that doesn't go away

Cervical Spine Herniated Disc Symptoms

The cervical spine includes vertebrae and discs in your neck area.  Cervical spine pain includes symptoms like:

• Sharp pain in the neck or between shoulder blades
• Tingling in shoulders or down the arm

Not all Herniated Discs Come With Intense Back Pain

Not all herniated discs cause extreme pain.  The location disc of the tear, and the size of the tear, can impact the pain an individual feels. When a disc leaks fluid onto the nerves it can cause extreme pain and numbness.  But if the leak isn't near the nerve, pain levels may be much less, but other symptoms may appear such as muscle weakness when standing or walking.  You may experience stumbling, or the inability to lift or hold items. If you experience this talk to your doctor.

Causes of Herniated Discs

There are a few reasons for ruptured discs.  Here are some of the most common.

• Injury — Straining while lifting or a sudden twist could result in a herniated disc.
• Age — General wear and tear can lead to disc degeneration and as a result, a disc can rupture.
• Weight — Extra weight can lead to stress on your discs making them weaker.

While it's difficult to prevent a herniated disc, there are some steps you can take to stop it from happening.

• Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
• Keep good posture.  This can help alleviate stress on the discs.
• Do not strain while lifting heavy objects.  Bend at the knees to avoid injury, and as you get older, know your limits.
• Strengthen back and abdominal muscles before a rupture. Talk to your doctor about exercises after you have a herniated disc to be sure you don't cause more damage.

Living With a Ruptured Disc

Initially, your doctor may advise you to rest for a few weeks to see if that helps with the inflammation and pain.  Other ways to manage the condition include:

• Over the counter medicine — Aspirin and ibuprofen may help with inflammation and pain management.
• Chiropractic care — While medication won't solve the problem, it can help with pain relief while you're working with a chiropractor for longer-lasting relief.  If the herniated disc is in the lower back, your chiropractor might offer non-surgical lumbar traction that stretches the spine while you're seated.  This relieves pressure off the herniated disc and helps speed up recovery.  While several treatments are usually needed, patients begin to feel relief after just one or two visits.  Stick with it for long-lasting relief!
• Injections — A steroid injection into the area around the spine can help calm the nerves.
• Surgery — While it's generally the last option after all other avenues have been exhausted, surgery may be recommended to help ease the pain and swelling physical therapy and injections couldn't.  All surgery comes with risks, so it's important to talk with your doctor about your options.

If you experience back pain that doesn't go away after a few days and have symptoms associated with a herniated disc, a chiropractor can help. Talk with our team in The Woodlands about the pain your experiencing to see how we can help.