About herniated disc

What is herniated disc?

Herniated disc facts

  • The discs are pads that serve as "cushions" between the vertebral bodies, which minimize the impact of movement on the spinal column.
  • Each disc is designed like a jelly donut with a central softer component (nucleus pulposus).
  • Abnormal rupture of the central portion of the disc is referred to as a disc herniation.
  • The most common location for a herniated disc to occur is in the disc at the level between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae in the low back.
  • If the disc herniation is large enough, the disc tissue can press on the adjacent spinal nerves that exit the spine at the level of the disc herniation.
  • The physical examination, imaging tests, and electrical tests can aid in the diagnosis of a herniated disc.
  • Depending on the severity of symptoms, treatments for a herniated disc include physical therapy, muscle-relaxant medications, pain medication, anti-inflammation medications, local injection of cortisone (epidural injections), and surgical operations.

How are the spine and its discs designed?

The vertebrae are the bony building blocks of the spine. Between each of the largest parts (bodies) of the vertebrae are the discs. Ligaments are situated around the spine and discs. The spine has seven vertebrae in the neck (cervical vertebrae), 12 vertebrae in the mid-back (thoracic vertebrae), and five vertebrae in the low back (lumbar vertebrae). In addition, in the mid-buttock, beneath the fifth lumbar vertebra, is the sacrum, followed by the tailbone (coccyx).

The bony spine is designed so that vertebrae "stacked" together can provide a movable support structure while also protecting the spinal cord (nervous tissue that extends down the spinal column from the brain) from injury. Each vertebra has a spinous process, which is a bony prominence behind the spinal cord that shields the cord's nerve tissue. The vertebrae also have a strong bony "body" in front of the spinal cord to provide a platform suitable for weight-bearing.

The discs are pads that serve as "cushions" between the vertebral bodies that serve to minimize the impact of movement on the spinal column. Each disc is designed like a jelly donut with a central softer component (nucleus pulposus). Ligaments are strong fibrous soft tissues that firmly attach bones to bones. Ligaments attach each of the vertebrae and surround each of the discs. When ligaments are injured as the disc degenerates, localized pain in the area affected can result.

What is a herniated disc? 

As described above, each disc of the spine is designed much like a jelly donut. As the disc degenerates from age or injury, the softer central portion can rupture (herniate) through the surrounding outer ring (annulus fibrosus). This abnormal rupture of the central portion of the disc is referred to as a disc herniation.

The most common location for a herniated disc to occur is in the disc at the level between the fourth and fifth lumber vertebrae in the low back. This area is constantly absorbing the impact of bearing the weight of the upper body. This is especially important when we are standing or sitting. The lower back is also critically involved in our body's movements throughout the day, as we twist the torso in rotating side to side and as we hinge the back in flexion and extension while bending or lifting.

What are the symptoms for herniated disc?

Arm or leg pain. If your herniated disk is in your lower back, besides Pain in your lower back, you'll typically feel Pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf. You might have Pain in part of the foot as well.

For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most Pain in your shoulder and arm. This Pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning.

  • Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating Numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.
  • Weakness. Muscles served by the affected nerves tend to weaken. This can cause you to stumble, or affect your ability to lift or hold items.

You can have a herniated disk without symptoms. You might not know you have it unless it shows up on a spinal image.

What are the causes for herniated disc?

Disk herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called disk degeneration. As people age, the 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 the back muscles instead of the 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.

What are the treatments for herniated disc?

Occasionally, disc herniation is incidentally detected when a test such as an MRI is performed for other reasons. If no symptoms are present, no particular treatment is necessary.Depending on the severity of symptoms, treatments for a herniated disc include physical therapy, muscle-relaxant medications, pain medications, anti-inflammation medications, local injection of cortisone (epidural injections), and surgical operations. In any case, all people with a disc herniation should rest and avoid reinjuring the disc. Sometimes, even people with relatively severe pain early on can respond to conservative measures, including physical therapy with an exercise regimen, epidural cortisone injection, and/or oral cortisone medication (such as methylprednisolone or prednisone), without the need for surgical intervention.There are now a variety of surgical approaches to treat disc herniation. Each type of operation is customized to the individual situation and depends a great deal on the condition of the spine around the disc affected. Surgical options include microdiscectomy using small surgical instruments and open surgical repair (either from a posterior or anterior approach). Urgent operation can be necessary when cauda equina syndrome is present (reviewed above).

What are the risk factors for herniated disc?

Factors that can increase the risk of a herniated disk include:

  • Weight. Excess body weight causes extra stress on the disks in the lower back.
  • Occupation. People with physically demanding jobs have a greater risk of back problems. Repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting also can increase the risk of a herniated disk.
  • Genetics. Some people inherit a predisposition to developing a herniated disk.
  • Smoking. It's thought that smoking lessens the oxygen supply to disks, causing them to break down more quickly.
  • Frequent driving. Being seated for long periods combined with the vibration from the motor vehicle engine can put pressure on the spine.
  • Being sedentary. Regular exercise can help prevent a herniated disk.

Is there a cure/medications for herniated disc?

A herniated disc is a condition in which the annulus fibrosus is damaged, enabling the nucleus pulposus (which is normally located within the center of the disc) to displace and protrude off the center. It compresses the nerve or spinal and causes spinal cord dysfunction.

Treatment
The treatment is either surgical or non-surgical.
1. Non-surgical treatment
-Non-surgical treatment is the primary approach to manage acute cervical and lumbar radiculopathies due to herniated discs.
-Physical therapy and Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are the first-line treatment modalities.
-For patients with no response to NSAIDs, opioid analgesics are the alternative. However, risks and benefits must be discussed with the patient before the recommendation. Opioids are better prescribed only for a short duration.
-Physical therapy is not initiated until symptoms have lasted for at least three months from the onset of the symptoms.
-Translaminar epidural injections and selective nerve root blocks are the second-line treatments.
2. Surgical treatment
-When patients do not respond to conservative treatment, surgical interventions are necessary.
-Surgical procedures include laminectomies with discectomies depending on the lumbar or cervical area.
-Complete discectomy and fusion are alternatives for herniated discs in the lumbar spine through a lateral or anterior approach.
-Anterior cervical decompression and fusion give an alternative for affected disks in the cervical spine.
-Replacement of herniated disc with an artificial one is a viable option.

Symptoms
Sharp and burning pain in the herniated disc,The pain may radiate into the muscles innervated by the nerves in the compressed nerve roots,Numbness, tingling, and decreased sensation along the path of nerve roots,In more severe cases, weakness or a feeling of instability while ambulating
Conditions
Displaced disc in the spine
Drugs
NA

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