Herniated Disc

Diagram showing herniated discs in spine

The spinal column extends from theĀ base of the skull to the pelvis. It is composed of thirty-three vertebrae. These vertebrae allow motion and render flexibility while the bones, ligaments and muscles provide stability. The spinal column is designed as such to enable the performance of day to day activities ā€“ motion for the neck and back, and support for the upper body weight.

In between the individual vertebrae bodies are discs. It appears to be in a stacked position wherein the discs serve as protection to keep the neck and back mobile while minimizing friction between vertebrae. The disk has a tough exterior (annulus fibrosus) with a soft gel in the middle (nucleus pulposus). The outer part is made up of concentric sheets of collagen fibers. Both are composed of water, collagen and proteoglycans but fluid content is much higher in the inner core.

Due to a variety of reasons, these discs can degenerate causing the inner core to go through a tear in the outer core. When this happens, the disc can inflame nearby nerves, the outer core and the spinal column, which in turn causes pain, numbness and other excruciating results. This spinal condition is what we call a herniated disc. Ā 

What Causes Disc Herniation?

The most common cause for disc herniation is the natural process of aging. Overtime the discs degenerate ā€“ decreasing in water content rendering it brittle and less flexible ā€“ such can contribute to the formation of a leak out of the outer core of the disc when even non-strenuous motion is involved. The discs also begin to shrink as part of the aging process

While normal aging happens overtime, spinal trauma is a sudden change resulting from an injury in the spinal column that causes one to have a Herniated Disc. Usually, that kind of injury comes from high-impact sports. However, chronic injuries can also eventually result to a disc herniation such as jobs that constantly expose the spine to strain and pressure, i.e. heavy weight lifting. Ā 

The spine supports the weight of the body, specifically in the abdominal region. When overweight, the vertebrae in the spine are compacted and in turn presses the discs in between. Overtime, the pressure it places on the spine can cause herniated discs.

Constantly lifting heavy weight objects can cause strain in the lower back and accumulate small tears in the discs which eventually result to a rupture in the disc.

Smoking can release toxins in the body which can affect the discs in the spine. It also impedes the circulation of important nutrients to keep the spine healthy.

As aforementioned, there are certain nutrients needed to keep the spine healthy. Poor nutrition can deprive the spine of those essentials. Also, poor nutrition is one of the causes of bad weight gain. Hence, it too can eventually lead to a Herniated disc condition.

Itā€™s possible that a family has a history of spine diseases and conditions such as a Herniated disc which increases the chances of developing disc herniation.

Herniated Disc Symptoms

Herniated Disc SymptomsThe symptoms of a herniated disk will vary depending on the cause, position of the disc in the spine and severity of the herniation. Also, if whether or not a nearby nerve has already been inflamed. Ā It commonly occurs in the cervical and lumbar spines because this is the part that inhibits more movement and support for the weight of the upper body. Itā€™s also possible for the herniation not to inhibit any symptoms at all. The following are example of the many symptoms that occur due to disk herniation:

  • Unexplained muscle weakness in the neck
  • Numbness in shoulders, arms and hands
  • Pain when walking
  • Tingling or burning sensations in the back
  • Upper back pain
  • Lower back pain
  • Back stiffness
  • Pain in legs
  • Numbness in legs
  • Muscle weakness of lower extremities
  • Incontinence of bowel and bladder

Most of the symptoms can be identified with the part of the spine that has been affected. In the cervical spine section, symptoms usually appear in the arms, hands, head and neck. For symptoms that occur in the thoracic section of the spine, it usually happens in the chest, ribs, shoulders and stomach. Lastly, for the lumbar spine section, it is usually found in the lower extremities.

If a nerve has been affected, then symptoms can appear in part of the body affiliated with the affected nerve. It is best to consult a doctor if you have questions about herniated discs. Ā 

Are You at Risk? Find Out

Itā€™s the inevitable scheme of our bodies that as we grow old, some things will deteriorate. Our spines with all the discs and vertebrae are not an exception. Aging is the most common cause for having Herniated disc condition. Those discs will eventually weaken with age. They tend to get dehydrated, brittle and thin. Theyā€™re meant to absorb the shock, acting like cushions for the spine, but they tend to lose their elasticity overtime which increases their overall vulnerability.

With a certain amount of pressure, a rupture can take place in the outer core where the inner core, the more gel-like substance pushes out of the exterior. This condition is what we call a disc herniation. The herniated disc can then inflame or irritate spinal nerves which can result to excruciating symptoms.

Abnormal weight gain is generally accepted to cause plenty of health problems. Part of these problems can be associated with the spine. The spine is primarily responsible for supporting some of our body weight particularly in the upper region. The added weight causes added stress on the spinal discs. There are plenty of spine conditions that can result from obesity, and one of them is the Herniated disc condition. With age, the discs in between the vertebrae in our spine wear out. They lose their elasticity and capability to minimize friction and absorb shock from the bodyā€™s motion and weight. Increased weight gain means increased pressure on the spine, and in the discs. As they are already more susceptible to damage with time, over weight increases even more its likelihood for damage. A disc herniation happens once the inner gel-like substance (nucleus pulposus) pushes out through a rupture in the outer wall (annulus fibrosus). This tends to irritate the outer wall, the spinal column and worse, spinal nerves rendering localized pain and other symptoms.

Smoking is dangerous to oneā€™s health. The diseases caused by smoking are usually related to the lungs. However, smoking can also have negative effects on the spine. One of it is Herniated disc condition. The toxins that are released from smoking also extends to the spine. The discs in the spine need certain essential nutrients to keep them healthy which helps them from deteriorating faster. However, the toxins released from smoking tend to interfere with the supply of these nutrients to the discs. Hence, complications are more likely to occur. In disc herniation, the inner substance (nucleus pulposus) of the disc tends to push out of a rupture in the outer wall (annulus fibrosus). This happens due to many reasons, one most common is aging. However, the likelihood of a herniation is increased when the circulation of the nutrients for the disc is impeded. So the worse the smoking habits are, the worse it will be for the spine.

How To Prevent Herniated Discs

A herniated disk is a result of the rupture of the outer lining (annulus fibrosus) of the disks that allow the inner substance (nucleus pulposus) to push through, not only irritating the outer wall but possibly also the surrounding spinal nerves. These discs serve as cushions for the spine as the spine is made of vertebrae that work together to allow movement for the body. They appear in a stacked-like position since the discs are located in between individual vertebrae. Hence, they are constantly exposed to pressure as our body moves and also from support for our body weight.

There are a variety of ways to trigger herniation. The common thread is that they all cause disc deterioration by either shutting off nutrients, increasing pressure or exposing the disc to forceful shocks. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to prevent herniated discs from happening.

The prevention methods vary from life-changing habits and small everyday decisions. It doesnā€™t cost a lot of money but rather discipline and control.

Improving oneā€™s posture isnā€™t just a beauty tip but a medical fact that it aids the spine with regards to weight distribution. The bodyā€™s weight is one of the main factors that contribute to the pressure of the discs in between the vertebrae of the spinal column. The proper alignment of the spine allows weight supported by the spine to be transferred to some of the core muscles. Holding a proper posture will delay the development of disk herniation if not fully impeding its progress.

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While a disk herniation is most likely inevitable to avoid with aging, keeping a well-balanced diet delays the development. Being overweight is one of the risk factors of disc herniation. The added weight increases compression of the spine that can contribute to a rupture occurring in the disc. Hence, avoiding those unhealthy pounds by maintaining a balanced diet is key to delaying the development of disc herniation.

Just as proper posture improves core muscles, so does exercising strengthen the muscles to remove unwanted pressure from the spine. There are various stretches and exercises that decompress the spine. Therefore loosen the pressure from the discs by allowing more space in between vertebrae. It is best to consult an expert to ensure that the exercises do not aggravate the pressure on the spine.

Basically, smoking impedes the nutrient cycle of the discs in the spine because of the toxins it releases in the body. As the discs are already prone to deteriorate overtime, cutting off its nutrient supply will increase the vulnerability of the discs. Hence, stopping the habit allows the normal circulation to flow, providing the essential nutrients to the spine therefore strengthening the discs to avoid tears from occurring that lead to herniation. Depending on the gravity of the habit, there are various things one can do to quit smoking.

How Are Herniated Discs Treated? Ā 

Treatment for herniated discs varies depending on which part of the spine is affected and the gravity of the condition. There is a long-range of treatments from conservative care to surgical procedures. It is best to consult a physician to ensure the appropriate treatment as there are other factors to be considered such as a patientā€™s medical history. Also, for a complete diagnosis to take place, the physician will order the necessary imaging or nerve tests based on the symptoms. Some patients may need immediate surgical attention while others may only need beneficial lifestyle changes.

Recovering From Surgery After a Herniated Disc

Immediately after the surgery, one will feel pain due to the incision made during the operation. Usually, one isnā€™t able to immediately mobile as further observations will still be made. The doctor will inform the patient about the recovery period and the steps that need to be made.

The period of full recovery will depend upon the kind of surgery that was made. It is important to make not of these things as surgery might require time off of work. Even though oneā€™s work may not involve physical labor, it may still take time before one can return. The recovery can sometimes take longer or shorter time depending on individual progress.

Recovery differs for each person. Hence, it is important to be positive and realistic about oneā€™s progress. The key is to be dedicated to the steps the doctor have given to fully recover. Remember that just because one feels better doesnā€™t mean that the muscles in the body can easily take sudden strenuous activity. The purpose of the recovery is gradual recovery to ensure optimal function for the spine and the muscles.

Although surgery will remove the herniated disc to alleviate pain or other symptoms, after surgery recovery is still essential to render the spine fully-functional and healthy. It generally might involve a series of treatments to ensure a successful recovery.

Get Plenty of Rest

The period of hospitalization depends on the kind of surgery that was performed. If an open spine surgery was conducted then, a patient would usually take more time recovering in the hospital for a couple of days. If a minimally invasive surgery was performed then there usually is no hospitalization involved. However, the patient will be asked take some rest at home. This includes avoiding activities that could place heavy pressure on the spine such as bending, lifting ā€“ especially heavy objects ā€“ and twisting the torso. It can help improve the healing stages of the spine during recovery period.

Stick to Your Prescribed Medication Schedule

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is usually administered post-surgery to ease pain that come from inflamed areas in the spine.

Physical Therapy Can Make a Huge Difference

Therapy sessions are essential. They donā€™t always have to be with a physical therapist but it involves low-impact exercises to help ease the spine into normal activity. Exercises should gradually increase in intensity. Physical therapists will aid in suggesting exercises that are best for the given condition.

Recovering From Open Spine Surgery

While a full recovery from an open spine herniated disc surgery could take several months to a year, the recovery associated with a minimally invasive procedure is typically much faster and far less arduous. This shortened recovery is largely because minimally invasive procedures donā€™t require the large incisions and muscle disruption that open spine surgeries require. Just as previously mentioned above, a patient needs to stay in the hospital for several days after this kind of surgery for further care and observations. Evidently, it will take much longer to return to work and other activities.

Recovering From Minimally Invasive SurgeryĀ 

The recovery will depend upon the procedures made during the surgery ā€“ stabilization or decompression. However, they wonā€™t be asked to stay in the hospital for several days after the surgery. In fact, this is considered to be an outpatient kind of surgery.

Herniated Disc vs Bulging Disc

Yes there is a difference between the two! Often they are mistaken to be the same thing but they actually share stark differences. However, there are also similarities. Hence, they are often interchanged.

How Are They Similar?

  • Both of these conditions are related to the disc that lie in between the individual vertebrae in the spine giving a stack-like picture of the spine. These discs absorb shock from the movements made by the body and support made for the bodyā€™s upper weight. It minimizes friction between the vertebrae.
  • Both can lead to similar symptoms such as localized pain, numbness, muscle weakness and burning sensations.
  • Both could possibly affect nearby nerves in the spine.
  • Both have the same causes as discussed here such as aging, spinal trauma, overweight, etc.

How Are Herniated Discs Different?

A herniated disc involves a rupture in the tough exterior, known as the annulus fibrosus. This causes the inner gel-like substance (nuclear pulpous) to push out of the tear. That has an affect not only the outer wall, but also the spinal cord and surrounding nerves.

On the other hand, a bulging disc doesnā€™t involve a rupture or tear in the outer wall. It only involves a portion of the outer wall perimeter. Hence, no inner substance has actually come out of the disc. Instead, it looks like the disc is protruding from the spinal cord.Ā 

It should also be noted that while they usually produce similar symptoms, herniated discs are more severe in natureĀ 

What's Happened to Your Back?

The first thing a person should do if they are experiencing the symptoms of a herniated or bulging disc is to consult a doctor. Because both conditions produce similar symptoms, the doctor would conduct thorough imaging test to determine which you have such as MRI or X-ray. He will also conduct physical examinations.

Our team will help determine whether one has a herniated or bulging disc. If one has a herniated disc condition, our team has plenty of experts that will aid in knowing the treatment that is best to be taken. It will depend on the severity and location of the herniated disc.

This is what a disc herniation looks like, the jelly like layer exposed to the spinal nerves.

Herniations

No, a herniated disc does not mean you need surgery. Everyone is different and coming in to consult with a back pain specialist is necessary if you do have a herniated disc

Absolutely, it all depends on your pain tolerance. It is also very common to have a herniated disc.

Age is a huge factor when it comes to back pain, it is estimated that 60% of adults over the age of 45 have lower back pain. Herniated Discs that go untreated for a long time will cause problems.

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