Herniated Discs

A herniated disk, also known as a slipped or ruptured disk, occurs when one of the rubbery cushions (disks) between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine breaks or slips out of place. These disks act as shock absorbers for the spine, allowing for movement and flexibility.

The disk has two main parts:

• The outer ring (annulus fibrosus), which is tough and flexible.
• The inner gel-like substance (nucleus pulposus), which can leak out if the outer ring tears or ruptures.

When a disk herniates, the inner material can press on nearby nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness in the area of the body that the nerve controls. For example, if the herniated disk is in the lower back, it can cause leg pain (sciatica). If it occurs in the neck, it can lead to pain, tingling, or numbness in the arms.

Common causes include:

• Age-related wear and tear, which weakens the disks.
• Sudden movements, lifting something heavy, or trauma.
• Poor posture or repetitive stress.

Treatment often starts with non-surgical options like rest, physical therapy,medications for pain management.

If there is not sufficient improvement with the pain the next step would be pain management procedures such as epidural injections, percutaneous disc removal.

In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove or repair the herniated portion of the disk.