What Is A Herniated Disk?

A Herniated Disk occurs when there is a problem with one of the disks between the individual bones of the vertebrae. The disks are rubbery cushions between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack together to make your spine. When the outer layer of the disk weakens and the inner layer presses against the outer layer, a herniated disk can occur.

What are the causes?

Disk herniation is most often caused by the gradual, age-related wear and tear called disk degeneration. As you age, the spinal disks begin to lose some of their water content. The loss of water makes them less flexible and brittle which can cause tearing and rupturing to occur with little movement. Once the disks have deteriorated, simple movements like twisting and turning while swinging a golf club or picking up grocery bags can cause pain. It is actually less common to get a herniated disk from a traumatic injury.

What does a it feel like?

Most herniated disks occur in your lower back, but they can also occur in your neck. The most common symptoms include: back pain, arm or leg pain, numbness or tingling, and weakness. This pain can be worse when sitting than standing. The pain can worsen after coughing, sneezing, bending forward, or lifting. Sometimes you can have a herniated disk and not even know it.

What are the treatments?

There are a variety of treatment options ranging from cold and hot compresses to steroid injections. Your doctor will carry out a physical exam to try to determine the source of your pain. S/He is likely to order an MRI to be able to visualize disk. Sometimes herniated disks cannot be seen on MRI results. In this case, the doctor may carry out a discography, a procedure in which dye is injected into the intervertebral disk to determine if it is damaged.

Louisiana Pain Specialists can help. We successfully treat all types of pain. We offer safe, minimally invasive, clinically proven interventional treatments that are highly effective. We have five (5) locations throughout the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. We accept ALL insurances. Call us today at 504-267-1185!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.