Disc Herniation Picture - to an ordinary person the disc herniation picture will seem like Latin and Greek so let’s try to understand a written picture of what disc herniation is all about. In human anatomy the spine or vertebral column consists of 33 vertebrae (bones) that are running along the human back connecting the skull to the pelvis. The vertebrae shield the nerves that come out from the brain and then further pass through the back and into the entire body.

Spinal discs are like soft pads between hard bones (vertebrae) that make up the entire spinal column. Spinal disks are filled with gelatinous or jellylike substance which provides a cushioning or shock absorber effect to the spinal column. Cervical (neck - portion behind skull) spine, thoracic (part of the back behind chest) spine, lumbar (lower back) spine and sacral spine (part connected to the pelvis and does not move) spine are the main segments of spinal column. Discs in lumbar spine are composed of a thick outer ring of cartilage (annulus) and an inner gel like substance (nucleus).

Disc Herniation: Pinched nerves, bulging disc, ruptured disc, radiculopathy, (radiculopathy refers to any disease that affects spinal nerves) sciatica and slipped disc are few other terms for herniated disc. As the disc degenerates, it is likely to herniate i.e. to say that the inner core extrudes back into the spinal canal.

The spinal disc becomes less elastic due to degeneration and the probability of a rapture increases. Just as when a disk raptures a portion of it would push outside the normal boundary and start bulging out from between the vertebrae. Due to the spinal nerves that are situated pretty close to the edge of the spinal discs the herniated disc poses a risk.

Symptoms of disc herniation: Herniated disk is considered as the most common source of pain in the neck, lower back, arms and legs. Few other symptoms include electric shock like pain, tingling and numbness in the cervical and lumbar region, muscle weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control which is to be handled as medical emergency. Sciatica (a condition wherein a sharp and shooting pain extends from buttocks down the back of one leg) is also a major symptom of disc herniation.

Factors causing herniated discs: an accident or a repetitive strenuous activity of the back may cause a herniated disc condition, it can also be caused by a sudden strain on the back or it can also develop gradually due to ageing and degeneration of the discs. These past few years have seen more people incurring more sports related injuries and C-Spine (Cervical) injuries have caused disc herniation in both contact sports like football, hockey and wrestling and in non contact sports like skiing, diving, surfing and equestrian events.

Diagnosis and treatments of disc herniation: Depending on a patient’s condition and symptoms, patients may be asked to undergo spine x-ray, spine CT, spine MRI, and EMG in order to properly diagnose herniated disc. Non-Surgical method of treatment may include rest and activity modification, physical therapy and hot and cold therapy, epidural steroid injections, oral steroid medications and NSAIDs (Non steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs).

Surgical Treatments are recommended and needed at times of siginificant neurological damages that cause loss of function and in conditions where non surgical treatments would be unsuccessful. Depending on the size and the location of the disk herniation, treatment via surgical methods may include microdisketomy or laminectomy. Arthroscopic surgery is the least invasive surgery that involves the use of an arthroscope (a type of endoscope) for examination and treatment of herniated discs.

Back pain is common and the largest single cause of sickness absence in the US and UK. It can affect anyone, of any age, but it is more common in people between the ages of 35-55 years. Back pain in adolescents and young adults is commonly attributed to injury resulting from athletic activities. Back pain that occurs after a trauma, such as a car accident or fall, should also be promptly evaluated by a medical professional to check for a fracture or other injury.

The Spine

The bones of the spine are connected to one another by the discs at the front and by the facet joints at the back. The discs help to absorb the normal loads on the spine and, with the facet joints, give the spinal column its flexibility. The nerves of the spinal cord, which connect the brain to the rest of the body, run down a hollow channel in the spine (the spinal canal). Many muscle groups which are responsible for flexing, extending, and rotating the waist, as well as moving the lower extremities, attach to the lumbar spine through tendon insertions. The aorta and blood vessels that transport blood to and from the lower extremities pass in front of the lumbar spine into the abdomen and pelvis. The skin over the lumbar area is supplied by nerves that come from the roots of the lumbar spine.

Over Weight?

If you are overweight you should consider a weight-reducing diet because of the extra strain that your weight puts on your leg joints and back. You will also be advised to stop smoking (as this may be an independent cause of back pain), so you should take extra care to prevent the weight gain that often follows.

During Pregnancy:

During pregnancy your center of gravity will gradually move forward as your uterus and baby grow, which causes your posture to change. Your developing pregnancy and baby create additional weight that your back must support. Stress usually finds the weak spot in the body, and because of the changes in your pelvic area, you may experience an increase in back pain during stressful periods of your pregnancy.

Pain Relief:

Topically applied lidocaine patches (Lidoderm 5% patch) have provided a reduction in pain intensity and pain relief in clinical trials of patients with acute pain. In a small percentage of cases, having a surgeon remove the part of the disc or bone that is irritating a nerve may provide relief. Spinal cord stimulators can help some patients who gain no relief from surgery.

Possible treatments:

Treatment options range from basic rest, ice or heat and gradually resuming activity to medication, exercise, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and surgery. Not all treatments work for all conditions or for all individuals with the same condition, and many find that they need to try several treatment options to determine what works best for them.

Therapies:

Additional treatments have been more recently reviewed by the Cochrane Collaboration. Massage therapy may benefit some patients. A meta-analysis of studies by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that heat therapy can reduce symptoms of acute and sub-acute low-back pain. The study found that injection therapy, usually with corticosteroids, does not appear to help regardless of whether the injection is facet joint, epidural or a local injection.

Exercise Solutions:

The evidence indicates that prescribing analgesics, tricyclic antidepressants and muscle relaxants is not the answer; nor is sending the patient for more physiotherapy or manipulative therapy. Many use treatments such as ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and exercises. The body is built to maintain itself and is capable of much more than we generally realise. Unless you are injured or suffering from disease it will respond if you make the demands. Exercise is a way of telling it that you need those functions.