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Within the spine are bones known as vertebrae that are bones stacked on top of one another and separated by discs (shock absorbers). The discs are made up of soft gel-like components called the nucleus pulposus. The nucleous pulposus is surrounded by the annulus fibrosis and when there's a crack or tear in it, a few of the soft gel portion of the disc may rupture with the tear resulting in pressure being put on the spinal-cord or nerve resulting in a herniated disc.

This problem is often referred to as a ruptured disc, extruded disc, bulging disc, free fragment and slipped disc. Even though this condition can be the consequence of trauma of the spine, it may occur when there is no cause at all. There have been patients that recall experiencing a twisting motion or specific injury that may have resulted in an extruded disc, however some have stated that they just woke up and the pain was already there.

Where will I Experience Symptoms of a Herniated Disc?

You might experience uncomfortable symptoms for those who have a herniated disc because it will press on the nerve and can cause symptoms where that nerve is. This problem can cause a condition results referred to as radiculopathy. This happens when a disc pushes on the nerve that travels to the arm and results in pain that might seem to be originating from that area of the arm. When this disc affects the legs the condition is known as sciatica.

When a person has this problem they may experience weakness and numbness or sensations of tingling. When a large ruptured disc is found in the neck it, it may cause spinal-cord damage and compression around the spinal-cord. A large slipped disc in the lumbar area may cause bladder or bowel control difficulties.

Who's at risk of Getting a Herniated Disc?

Individual are at increased chance of getting a herniated disc when they participate in excessive lifting, twisting, and bending that put stress on the discs found in the neck and lower back. Although the human body is made to sustain certain levels of lifting, twisting, and bending, there is however a limitation to how much it can endure.An individual also has an increased chance of getting a ruptured disc as they age when the disc of the spine become flatter and weaken. When a disc becomes too weak, there might be tearing of the outer portion. At these times, the interior area of the disc will push through this tear and press on the nerve alongside it.

How Will I understand if I have a Herniated Disc?

Obtaining a complete history on the patient begins the process of determining if an individual has a herniated disc. Next may be the physical exam. If your doctor suspects that there's a ruptured disc present, they will stick to the procedure for confirming it through diagnostic studies. A physician will most likely order a very sensitive study called a MRI to be able to find out if a ruptured disc is present.

If the MRI doesn't show sufficient evidence a myelogram and also a CT scan with the spine could provide additional information. These studies are excellent sources of showing the spine's anatomy however; they don't show information on the nerves. An EMG/nerve conduction test may also help to determine if a ruptured disc is present.

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