What you need to know about herniated discs
What is a herniated disc?
The term herniated disc refers to an unnatural protrusion of the spinal disc between vertebrae. The disc is an intervertebral piece of cartilage (it lies between the bones of the spine) that is smooth, rubber-like and absorbs shock. It allows slight movement of the vertebrae and acts as a ligament that holds everything in the spine together.
Intervertebral discs consist of an outer fibrous ring called the annulus fibrosus, which surrounds the inner gel-like center, the nucleus pulposus. If you imagine a jelly-filled donut, the cake portion of the donut is the annulus fibrosus and the jelly is the nucleus pulposus. However, this is no ordinary donut, it has been fried and re-dipped in batter several times, creating multiple layers
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When this happens, you experience a herniated disc.
A bulging disc is typically less severe than a herniated disc and means the dough-like portion of the disc becomes misshapen but the jelly is still contained inside.
What causes a herniated disc?
A herniated disc can be caused by trauma to the disc, but more often it occurs because of chronic deterioration, typically characterized by poor posture. Poor posture adds extra weight to the front of the intervertebral disc, forcing the nucleus pulposus out toward the spinal cord and nerve fibers.
The good news is poor posture can be easily corrected, which will redirect the forces applied to the intervertebral disc. The bad news is a lot of people have poor posture.
How common is a herniated disc?
Herniate discs are very common and become more common with age. However, not all herniated discs will cause symptoms. Research shows that 30% of 20-year-old’s have disc herniation with no back pain as well as 84% of 80-year
C. As the body of calcaneum progresses proximally and lateral, it causes the superolateral fragment to rotate medially and to impact into spongy calcaneous bone which sweeps out the sheared off lateral wall fragment and results in commounited fragments impinging into the peronal tendon space against fibula.
Causes of an Inguinal Hernia differ from person to person. During prenatal male development, the testicles descend down the Inguinal Canal, and into the soon to be developed scrotem. In some cases, adolescent and adult males have weak spots near the Inguinal Canal, where the spermatic cord enters the scrotem, leaving the perineum lining more sesceptable to develop a hernia. This is more commonly found in men, since some men don’t have an inguinal canal that properly closes after birth and development. A pre-existing weak abdominal wall is one of the most common causes of an Inguinal Hernia. The most common cause for this condition is overexertion. This includes everything from heavy lifting, straining abdominal muscles during urination and bowel movements, coughing, sneezing, and being overweight. Inguinal hernias can also develop later in life when the abdominal wall weakens due to underuse, or strenuous activity. Women are less likely to develop this type of hernia. When women are diagnosed, it is typically due to pregnancy, overexertion of the abdominal wall, or a combination of both.
Tests after tests including MRI’s, X-rays, and experimental procedures were performed to show I had five ruptured disks in the lower lumbar section of my back. Tedious Examination done by a group of doctors concluded I had a crippling disease of the spinal column called spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes compression of the spinal cord. (Lohr,1) If this disease was ignored any longer, it would lead to many other problems affecting other areas of my back to help support this weakness. It was an extremely rare case for an athlete my age.
Pain Relief – Causes of acute and/or chronic back pain may include weak stomach and/or back muscles, poor posture, spinal misalignment, and the force of compression caused by gravity. Inversion therapy is used like traction to relieve pressure on the discs and elongate the spine, which reduces the pressure on nerve roots, discs, and ligaments. All that relates to lessening back and neck pain. Sometimes those tense muscles create painful muscle spasms, which are also temporarily relieved by inversion therapy.
Causes/ aetiology: a. There is suggested evidence that a number of anatomical structures such as, bones, intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments, joints and neural structures cause back pain (Hoy, Brooks, Blyth & Buchbinder, 2010). Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a condition that is believed to cause chronic back pain (Weiner & Nordin, 2010). It occurs when there is an extrusion of disc material into the surrounding tissue (Weiner & Nordin, 2010). It is also suggested that abnormal stress of the ligaments, muscles and mechanoreceptors contribute to back pain (Weiner & Nordin, 2010). The main cause of chronic back pain has not been identified, but there are many suggested issues that are believed to contribute to chronic back pain.
DOI: 5/26/2011. This a case of a 71 year-old male forklift driver who sustained a work-related injury to the lower back when he was stuck by another co-worker in the forklift. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with lumbar disc syndrome, spondylosis protrusion, multilevel, lumbar; annular phisher at the lumbar level, chronic lumbar pain, and chronic pain syndrome. MRI of the lumbar spine dated 03/26/2015 revealed mild to moderate multilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine most severe at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. X-ray of the Lumbar spine dated 03/29/15 revealed mild to moderate multilevel degenerative disc disease but no fracture. As per physical therapy note dated 03/30/15, the patient completed 12 physical therapy visits. He
Scoliosis is a disease that attacks the muscles and ligaments of the spinal column, causing a sideways twisting and rotation of the spine, ribs, and pelvis. Its is a C-shaped or S-shaped curvature of the spine. An S-shaped curve is created when a secondary curve counterbalances primary abnormal curve. It severely impairs the bodies neurological, hormonal, and nutritional systems.
The spine is one of the most integral parts of our bodies. Not only does it house the components of our central nervous system (i.e. the spinal cord), protects vital internal organs, but it also helps to support our movements and other daily functions. The spine holds us upright and provides the framework for our entire bodies. Since it plays such an important role, damage or deformities in this area are not to be taken lightly. Scoliosis is defined as side-to-side spinal curvature (“What is scoliosis? 2011), and it affects between 3-5 people out of every 1,000. It can have vast implications on every day life including, back pain, and in more serious cases, lung function.
Idiopathic scoliosis is unknown causes of scoliosis which means in about eighty percent of cases of scoliosis is unknown. Some causes of scoliosis would be neuromuscular condition such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Then there is congenital scoliosis which was present at the time of birth. Scoliosis is also known to be a genetic disorder. If you have leg longer than the other you are at risk of developing scoliosis. Other causes are: bad posture, using backpacks or satchels, and exercise. (What are the causes of scoliosis, 2014).
The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated spinal disc (aka slipped disc). When this happens, the natural cushion between the vertebra of your spine ruptures, causing the disc to push out into areas usually occupied by these nerves. The nerves are compressed, and people then experience the symptoms of pain, weakness, and numbness. Other conditions, such as spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, or piriformis syndrome can also cause sciatica symptoms by irritating the nerve.
In spite of resolving itself the symptoms return as soon as activities are resumed. in the event that the examiner feels that sports hernia might be present the author recommends palpation of the potential sites of injury. Lower abdominal, adductors, pain to palpation is common in athletes; therefore, it is critical to determine if the pain is consistent with their symptoms. The abdomen and abdominal obliques should also be palpated. Besides palpation to point out exactly that the athlete is suffering from sports hernia imaging machines such as radiographs, MRI’s , and injection of dye coupled with valsava like maneuvers and radiographs are also
Many individuals do not understand the importance of having flexibility of the spine until they experience back pain. This issue with the spinal column can lead to greater health problems, such as trigger points that can result in hindering your quality of life.
If you have back pain that's caused by problems with your discs, then you might benefit from spinal decompression. One type of decompression treatment is surgery that relieves pressure on the nerves in your spine. A more gentle type of treatment is spinal decompression therapy. This therapy might be able to correct your condition and relieve your pain without having to undergo back surgery. Here is some more information.
Scoliosis is a deformation of the spinal column. The classification for Scoliosis is when the spinal column is curved sideways. Usually in the shape of the letter c or s. Unlike Lordosis, which is an extreme inward curve of the spine; or Kyphosis, a forward curve of the spine. Scoliosis's exaggeration lies in the how it's slanted.
Can push the spine out of alignment so that it will cause pain when waking up.