Herniated discs are painful back conditions that can cause loss of enjoyment of life or even total disability, thousands of people everyday lives with this pain, hoping for something to relieve it and give them a better quality of life. The first step in living with cervical disc herniation is to have a better understanding of the condition including what it is, what causes it, how to identify symptoms, and what the treatment options are including exercise and surgery. This knowledge will help lead to better healthcare choices while living with the condition.
What a is a Herniated Disc
Discs are natural shock absorbers that prevent the vertebrae in the spine from being damaged during natural body movement. The cushiony discs are located between each vertebra and are filled with a fluid like center, much like a round donut with a center filling.
If the disc suffers a tear, rupture or breakage due to age, improper bending and many other things, it is called a disc herniation. The herniated disk typically bulges due to the fluid from inside the center leaking to the outer area of the disc. This bulge, depending on where it is located, presses against the nerves that run throughout the spinal canal. This pressure produces intense pain that can radiate from the area of the hernia to any of the nerves that are impacted.
Recognizing the Symptoms
It is important to recognize symptoms that could indicate a herniated disc so that a back doctor can be consulted before the disc can deteriorate further. Symptoms can vary and will depend on how severe the herniation is when the symptoms begin.
Some people may not feel symptoms until the hernia is severe; however, most people will feel some discomfort at the area of the back where the disc is located. As the hernia degenerates further and pushes more intensely on the spinal canal and thus the nerves that radiate to other areas of the body, the pain will become more intense and in areas beyond the back.
The pain is often described as a shooting pain that radiates from the back and along the path of the nerve, which in cases of lower lumbar hernias can be the buttocks, thighs and all the way down the leg.
Sever herniation can cause the muscles to become numb and if treatment is not sought, weakness can increase and dangerous symptoms such as loss of bladder or bowel control can occur; although most people recognize that they need to see a doctor long before body functions are affected.
Diagnosis
If the symptoms of a herniated disc are present, a trip to the doctor is in order. Once all of the symptoms have been recorded, the doctor will perform a neurological exam to look for reflexes that are abnormal. The doctor will perform what is called a ‘positive straight leg raising test’ which will elicit pain or sensations in the leg or foot that are not normal.
If these things indicate to the doctor that a herniated disc is possible, further tests will be completed to get an accurate diagnosis. One of the next steps is to have x-rays, MRI scans or CT scans in order to see the spine more clearly and determine which disc is herniated and how severe the bulge is and where it is located.
If the doctor determines that there is a herniated disc, an elctromyogram may be ordered to discover which of the nerves are being affected by the pressure from the disc.
Treatment
Treatment for herniated discs varies based on the extent of the damage to the hernia and how severe the symptoms are for the individual. If there are no painful symptoms, the decision may be made to leave the hernia as is until pain becomes obvious.
On the other hand, if pain is already present and becoming worse as time goes on, the doctor will typically start out with pain treatment options and increase the action taken as the pain increases. Some of the treatment options include:
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- Heat therapy
- Pain medications
- Steroids
- Local injections
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Surgery
As shown here, surgery is the last option that most doctors choose for their patients. This is due the surgery not being one hundred percent guaranteed. Doctors prefer to start out with less invasive measures and move to surgery only when absolutely necessary.
Should the doctor decide that surgery is the only option left, there are many different types of surgery available, depending on the hernia and the extent of the damage.
There are invasive surgeries that remove the entire disc and fuse the remaining bones or laser surgeries that remove the bulge from the disc using heat or radio waves.
If a herniated disc is suspected, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the disc and prevent pain from becoming life altering.