Some fractures can … Continued. A bulging disc is a common, age-related spine injury. The spine is made up of stacked vertebrae with spinal discs sitting between each one.
The tough discs provide cushioning, support, and shock absorption and movement to the vertebrae. Each disc is made up of an outer ring annulus fibrosus and inner, jelly-like core nucleus pulposus. It was scary, and you felt a little shaken up afterward, but you walked away from the scene unharmed and feeling fine. Bone spurs also called osteophytes are overgrowths of bone that form along bone edges — usually around joints. Bone spur development is an immune system response.
When your body detects an area of damage or … Continued. Arm or Leg Pain, Numbness or Weakness Many people believe that back or neck pain is the primary symptom of a herniated disc.
Pain During Activities The pain from a bulging disc often worsens or comes on suddenly when you make certain movements. Trigger movements or body positions can include: Coughing or sneezing Prolonged sitting, standing or walking Bending or hunching forward Slipped disc pain starts or worsens with activity because movements such as the ones listed above place more stress and pressure on the spine and spinal nerves. Pain Relief With Rest If you have a slipped disc, you may experience pain relief with rest.
Try to avoid high-impact activities that cause your pain to flare up. However, be mindful of resting too much — prolonged immobilization can end up causing more pain, stiffness and inflammation.
Stay active with low-impact activities like swimming or yoga as much as you can tolerate without experiencing too much pain. Ice and heat. Alternate ice and heat packs several times a day to soothe pain, swelling, inflammation and stiffness. For mild to moderate pain, an over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be effective.
Cortisone injection. A corticosteroid injection can temporarily reduce inflammation and irritation around compressed nerves in the spine. While the effects of an injection are short-term, it gives your body time to start the healing process and gives you a break from pain and discomfort. Many people have no symptoms from a herniated disk. Surgery is usually not necessary to relieve the problem.
Most herniated disks occur in the lower back, although they can also occur in the neck. Signs and symptoms depend on where the disk is situated and whether the disk is pressing on a nerve. They usually affect one side of the body. You can have a herniated disk without symptoms.
You might not know you have it unless it shows up on a spinal image. Seek medical attention if your neck or back pain travels down your arm or leg, or if you also have numbness, tingling or weakness. Disk herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called disk degeneration.
As you age, your disks become less flexible and more prone to tearing or rupturing with even a minor strain or twist. Most people can't pinpoint the cause of their herniated disk. Sometimes, using your back muscles instead of your leg and thigh muscles to lift heavy objects can lead to a herniated disk, as can twisting and turning while lifting. Rarely, a traumatic event such as a fall or a blow to the back is the cause. Just above your waist, your spinal cord ends.
What continues through the spinal canal is a group of long nerve roots that resemble a horse's tail cauda equina. Lifting a very large, heavy object can place great strain on the lower back, resulting in a slipped disc. If you have a very physically demanding job that requires a lot of lifting, you may be at increased risk for slipped discs. Overweight individuals are also at increased risk for a slipped disc because their discs must support the additional weight.
Weak muscles and a sedentary lifestyle may also contribute to the development of a slipped disc. As you get older, you are more likely to experience a slipped disc. This is because your discs begin to lose some of their protective water content as you age. As a result, they can slip more easily out of place. They are more common in men than women. Your doctor will first perform a physical exam. They will be looking for the source of your pain and discomfort.
This will involve checking your nerve function and muscle strength, and whether you feel pain when moving or touching the affected area. Your doctor also will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms.
They will be interested in when you first felt symptoms and what activities cause your pain to worsen. Imaging tests can help your doctor view the bones and muscles of your spine and identify any damaged areas. Examples of imaging scans include:. Your doctor can combine all these pieces of information to determine what is causing your pain, weakness, or discomfort. An untreated, severe slipped disc can lead to permanent nerve damage.
In very rare cases, a slipped disc can cut off nerve impulses to the cauda equina nerves in your lower back and legs. If this occurs, you may lose bowel or bladder control. Another long-term complication is known as saddle anesthesia.
In this case, the slipped disc compresses nerves and causes you to lose sensation in your inner thighs, the back of your legs, and around your rectum. While the symptoms of a slipped disc may improve, they also can worsen. Treatments for a slipped disc range from conservative to surgical. Most people can relieve slipped disc pain using an exercise program that stretches and strengthens the back and surrounding muscles.
A physical therapist may recommend exercises that can strengthen your back while reducing your pain. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and avoiding heavy lifting and painful positions can also help. Shop for OTC pain relievers now. Instead, try to remain as active as possible through stretching or low-impact activities such as walking.
If your slipped disc pain does not respond to over-the-counter treatments, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications. These include:. Your doctor may recommend surgery if your symptoms do not subside in six weeks or if your slipped disc is affecting your muscle function. Your surgeon may remove the damaged or protruding portion of the disc without removing the entire disc.
This is called a microdiskectomy.
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