A person suffering from lower back, arm, neck, or leg pain may be diagnosed with a herniated disc.  In order to truly understand what this means, it is important to know what a disc is made up of and what the functions are of a healthy disc.   A disc is made up of a tough outer core and a gel-like inner material.   A disc functions as a spacer, shock absorber, and motion unit.

Functions of a Healthy Disc

When it performs its duty as a spacer, this helps the intervertebral foramen maintain a height that allows room for the nerve roots to rest without compression.  They act as a shock absorber when a person decides to jump or run, allowing the spine to compress or rebound.  They act as a motion unit, so they allow a person to flex, bend, or rotate.

Brief Description of a Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like inner material breaks through the tough outer core and compresses on the nerves that are located outside of the disc.

Causes of a Herniated Disc

There are two main causes of a herniated disc.  Wear and tear due to age is common in older patients.   A traumatic injury is another cause that could also be found in younger patients.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

A person suffering from a herniated disc will feel symptoms in different areas of the spine.  The spine is divided into three sections.  These are:

• Cervical
• Thoracic
• Lumbar

When the nerves outside of the discs are pressed on, symptoms will occur, such as: pain, numbness, and weakness.  A common symptom is sciatica, which is most commonly found in the lower back.

Diagnosis of a Herniated Disc

Tests to be run for a herniated disc are a MRI or CT scan.  They can confirm a herniated disc or rule out any other problems.

Treatment of a Herniated Disc

Most people who are diagnosed with a herniated disc will not need surgery.   The first course of treatment will be a set of nonsurgical treatments that will be done for a period of four to six weeks.  Most herniated discs will begin to heal within this time period.

If they do not heal, surgical options may be discussed.  The traditional back surgery is not as common these days.  There are a couple of surgical options that will allow a person to have outpatient surgery without the risks of a traditional open back surgery.

Disc replacement surgery is also an option that requires a longer recovery period and has risks similar to the open back surgery.

Good Candidates for Herniated Disc Surgery

A doctor will take into consideration a number of factors that will help him/her determine if a patient will benefit from herniated disc surgery.

A herniated disc can be a painful and disabling health issue.  The good news is that most people can heal over a period of one to six months without needing surgery.  Even better news is that because of advanced technology, there are less invasive surgical treatments that allow a patient to feel relief on the same day of the procedure, as well as return to normal daily activities without pain in minimal time.