Blog

Unfortunately for many people, back pain is a frequent reality they must deal with. You could go from relaxing on the couch with your friends or family to standing and suddenly feeling a sharp pain radiates up through your lower back. What could be causing this terrible back pain? Odds are it’s a herniated disc, otherwise known as a slipped disc.

The human spine is comprised of 33 bones called vertebrae (click here to learn more about the anatomy of the human spine). Some of the vertebrae have built-in cushioning in the form of soft discs that are made of a substance that’s kind of like jelly. Unfortunately, it’s possible for one of these disks to slip out of place. This irritates the surrounding nerves and causes the significant back pain. Herniated or slipped discs are a very common problem in Florida.

The Most Common Signs of a Slipped Disc

The most common place to experience a herniated or slipped disc is in the lower back. However, a slipped disc can also occur in the neck.

Some of the most common symptoms of a herniated disc include:

Serious Pain in the Lower Back

Disconnect from any part of the back, but it is most common in the lower back (the lumbar spine). Back pain originating in this area could be a sign that you’ve experienced a slipped disc and should not be ignored. pain from a herniated disc and spread from your backbone to your buttocks, thighs and even your calves.

Fluctuating Pain Depending on Your Level of Activity

A herniated disc will typically be aggravated by doing some forms of activity. At the same time, you may find that your symptoms dull while you’re resting. This is because activities will put additional pressure on the nerves that are already being pinched by the slipped disc. In this state, something as simple as sneezing can be excruciatingly painful.

Tingling or Numbness

As we mentioned, the disc begins to disrupt surrounding nerves as it slips out of position. If you’ve ever experienced a pinched nerve before, and you know it can create a sense of numbness or tingling in the affected region. this is a common sign that you may indicate a herniated disc in your spine.

Uncharacteristic Weakness

If you have been feeling weaker than normal and you can’t count for a reason why, it could be a symptom of a slipped disc. This is another symptom that could be caused by pinched nerves. Untreated, those affected nerves could the too stumbling or even impair your ability to lift or hold things in your hands.

Old Age

As you age, you’ll be at greater risk of experiencing a slipped disc. It’s an unfortunate side effect of getting older.

Less Common Symptoms Associated with Slipped Discs

Yes it really doesn’t come as any surprise that a herniated disc would cause significant back pain. that being said, you may have been surprised to learn that slipped discs can cause weakness in your legs and even numbness. Here are some silent symptoms that could indicate a slipped disc and should not be ignored.

One Side Of Your Body Is Cold

By now, you should come as no surprise that irritated nerves can produce a wide range of different symptoms. In addition to numbness and tingling, you may experience a sensation like coldness along one side of your body. It’s certainly an odd and disturbing feeling. This could be caused by some other medical condition, but it should be checked out by a professional.

Pain In Your Foot

Remember that we mentioned pain from a herniated disc can spread beyond your lower back if left unchecked or untreated. If a slipped disc is pressing on the sciatic nerve, there is a risk that it could trigger the development of a medical condition known as sciatica. This condition causes shooting pain through the leg and can cause numbness in the feet or toes.

Significant Pain While Laughing

Laughter is often considered to be a great healer. Unfortunately, this may not be the case if you have a slipped disc in your back. if you find that laughing has become very painful, this is definitely a symptom that you should get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible. Remember that laughing, coughing or sneezing puts additional pressure on the abdomen which can affect your back– especially if you have a herniated disc.

What Typically Causes a Slipped Disc in Your Spine?

The simple answer this question is that there are a lot of things that could cause a slipped or herniated disc. What happens is the intervertebral disc begins to push out and starts to take up more room than it’s designed to. This is what causes the significant pain in the back.

All right so that aside, we know that what you’re looking for is in more information about the most common causes of herniated discs in Florida. Here are 3 of them:

Personal Injury (Such As Being in a Car Accident)

A car accident enacts a serious amount of trauma on the body and the spine. herniated discs are one of the most common car accident injuries. Four serious slipped discs, you may want to schedule a consultation with Florida surgery Consultants.

You can also injure your back with any type of sudden, jerking movement. Slipped discs are all-too-common injury among weightlifters. This is why form is so important!

Wear & Tear on the Spine

Apart from injuries, herniated discs are often the result of daily wear and tear or degeneration of the spine. The human back can undergo a lot of strain over the course of a given day. The intervertebral discs we mentioned earlier are designed to absorb shock from normal movement ( such as walking or bending over). Most people are moving around constantly and this means that our discs how to work a whole lot over a lifetime. Some may eventually wear out.

Technically speaking, the tough outer layer of the intervertebral disc ( known as the annulus fibrous) starts to weaken. this allows the jelly like substance on the inside (known as the nucleus puplosus) to poke through, which can cause a slipped disc.

A Combination of Injury and Degeneration in the Spine

If your intervertebral discs have undergone a significant amount of wear and tear, they will be more prone to herniation. This will make it much more likely that one of your discs will slip if you’re in a car accident or other traumatic event.

If degeneration in your spine is severe enough, it really won’t take much or a herniation to occur. When we work with patients that have significant degeneration in their spines, we must educate them on how to be more careful and prevent future slipped discs.

It could get so bad that eventually he sneeze could cause a herniated disc. That sounds extremely painful!

Conclusion

If you believe that you are suffering from a slipped disc, you can schedule a consultation with Florida surgery Consultants. Most people think of us when it comes to spinal surgery, but our Specialists have the ability to treat a wide range of spinal conditions including herniated discs. All you need to do is call us at (888) 411-6824 or complete the online consultation form above.