The Herniated Lumbar Disc
Two common causes of back pain or sciatica are the disc protrusion or herniated disc. Your spine consists of bones (vertebrae) separated by small pads of cartilage, or discs, formed by a hard outer layer (anulus) and a soft inside gel (nucleus pulposus). These disks act as springs, while absorbing shocks and allowing flexibility of the lumbar spine.
The herniated disc is most often the result of slow gradual wear and tear and frank injury recent or old.
With age your intervertebral discs lose some of their water content, which makes them less flexible and more prone to tearing or breaking by sudden movement or repetitive twisting of the low back. When there is a herniated disc a small portion of the nucleus pulposus extrudes out through a tear in the annulus to the spinal canal, this can irritate the spinal nerve tissue (the dural sac, cauda equina or spinal nerve root) and cause pain, numbness or weakness in the back, or leg.
The herniated disc is most often the result of slow gradual wear and tear and frank injury recent or old.
With age your intervertebral discs lose some of their water content, which makes them less flexible and more prone to tearing or breaking by sudden movement or repetitive twisting of the low back. When there is a herniated disc a small portion of the nucleus pulposus extrudes out through a tear in the annulus to the spinal canal, this can irritate the spinal nerve tissue (the dural sac, cauda equina or spinal nerve root) and cause pain, numbness or weakness in the back, or leg.
Using your back in torsion during lifting can lead to a herniated disc. Rarely a traumatic event such as a fall or a blow to the back can cause a herniated disc, however, could be the final straw. It is possible to unknowingly have a herniated disc. Lesioned discs or disc hernias are sometimes evident in spinal images of people who currently are not symptomatic. Some lesioned discs can be extremely painful. The most common signs and symptoms of a herniated disc are:
- General or specific pain, numbness or weakness in the lower back or leg.
- Back pain or leg pain that worsens when sitting, coughing or sneezing.
- Sciatica: a radiating pain, sometimes with tingling and numbness that starts in the buttock and extends along the leg.
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A herniated disc usually improves quickly with competent conservative management and it is not always necessary to resort to surgery. With chiropractic treatment, imaging studies show that the protruding or displaced disc decreases over time, which corresponds to an improvement of symptoms.
Pay attention to daily activities when you have a back problem. Reduce activities that aggravate symptoms. A herniated disc is not an issue of a fragile back, so do not avoid all physical activity. |
Sciatica due to lumbar disc lesion
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Collaborate with your chiropractor to find the right combination of rest and activity. Eventually you can gradually increase your activities until you are able to live your normal life. It is important to follow your treatment plan. Talk to your chiropractor if you are unsure of any part of the plan, or if you need more information on the activities of self-managed care.
Remember, self care does not replace the care of a professional. Pain in the low back and sciatic pain are caused by several factors. Consult your chiropractor if you have pain or if you have been injured.
Remember, self care does not replace the care of a professional. Pain in the low back and sciatic pain are caused by several factors. Consult your chiropractor if you have pain or if you have been injured.