A herniated disc can be troubling, but luckily, this condition is highly treatable. A herniated disc occurs when a disc (the soft, rubbery padding between vertebrae) becomes dislodged or damaged. Herniated discs can occur at any point on the spine, although this injury is most common in the neck area and the lower back area. It’s possible to have a herniated disc without knowing it, making it important to mention any unusual symptoms to your doctor, as you’ll want to catch a herniated disc sooner rather than later. Read on for signs, causes, and possible treatments of herniated discs.
Signs
There are many signs and symptoms that may indicate that you are dealing with a herniated disc. Only a trained physician can diagnose the condition, so it’s important to have a conversation about your symptoms with your doctor instead of trying to self-diagnose. Some telltale signs include numbness in the affected area, tingling in the affected area, muscle weakness, and arm or leg pain. If you notice a sudden onset of any of these symptoms (rather than a gradual increase over time) it’s important to visit your local emergency room, as sudden onset may be indicative of a more serious condition, such as a heart attack.
Causes
Like many parts of our body, our spine can simply show signs of wear and tear over time. Often, this wear and tear is responsible for typical aches and pains as we gt older, but sometimes, it can develop into something more serious. Sometimes herniated discs occur without any specific cause. Sometimes, however, there is a specific incident that causes the injury. Herniated discs can be caused by moving/ lifting heavy objects with improper form (such as bending or twisting at the waist and lifting with the back, as opposed to squatting and lifting with the legs), an isolated injury such as a car or athletic accident, or by performing activities that cause atypical back strain. Being overweight or obese can also increase the risk of developing a herniated disc, as can certain genetic factors.
Treatments
While herniated discs can certainly be painful, the good news is that they are very treatable. It’s important to work with your physician to develop a care and pain management plan that works for you. There are many options for treatment, including physical therapy, surgery, interventional pain management (such as nerve blockers- it’s important that these are only administered by a trained physician), cortisone injections (also referred to as an epidural), oral pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications, or a simple heat and ice treatment. Try not to get frustrated if the first course of treatment is not successful- it often takes a few tries to find what treatment will work best to relieve your pain.
