Table of Contents
What is a slipped disc?
The vertebrae (bones) that make up your spinal column are piled on top of each other. From top to bottom, the cervical spine has seven bones, the thoracic spine has twelve, and the lumbar spine has five, with the sacrum and coccyx at the bottom. Discs provide cushioning for these bones. Moving, lifting, and spinning both cause shocks to the muscles, which the disks absorb.
A delicate, gelatinous inner section and a rugged outer ring make up each disk. The inner part of the disc will protrude from the outer ring due to injury or weakness. A slipped, herniated, or prolapsed disc is the medical term for this condition. This triggers irritation and injury. You can feel numbness and discomfort along the injured nerve if a slipped disc compresses one of your spinal nerves. In extreme cases, surgery to remove or repair the slipped disk can be required.
What do the signs and symptoms of a slipped disc look like?
A slipped disc can occur anywhere along your body, from your neck to your lower back. Slipped disks are most often found in the lower back. The nerves and blood vessels in your spinal column form a complex network. A slipped disc will put additional strain on the nerves and muscles in the area.
A slipped disc can cause the following symptoms:
- Pressure and numbness, usually on one side of the body, with pain radiating to the arms or legs
- Pain that gets worse at night or as you walk around
- Walking short distances causes discomfort that worsens after standing or sitting
- Muscle weakness that isn’t explained
- sensations of tingling, aching or burning in the affected area
The forms of pain differ from one person to the next. If the pain causes numbness or tingling that interferes with your ability to move your muscles, see the doctor.
A variety of factors causes slipped disks.
The outer ring of a slipped disk becomes weak or broken, allowing the inner part to slip out. This is something that will happen when you grow older. Such gestures may also trigger a slipped disk. When spinning or rotating to lift an object, a disc may slip out of position. Lifting a big, hard weight puts a lot of pressure on the lower back, leading to a slipped disc. Slipped disks are most likely to occur if you work in a physically taxing position requiring a lot of lifting.
Since their disks must carry excess weight, obese people are more likely to have a slipped disc. A slipped disc may also be caused by poor muscles and a sedentary lifestyle.
You’re more likely to have a slipped disc when you get older. This is because when you get older, the discs lose more of their protective water quality. As a result, they are more likely to fall out of line. Men are more likely to get them than women.
What is the treatment for a slipped disc?
A slipped disk can be treated in a variety of ways, from non-surgical to surgical. The type of medication you undergo is normally determined by your pain severity and how much the disc has slipped out of place.
The majority of people will alleviate slipped disc pain by stretching and strengthening their back and associated muscles. A physical therapist can prescribe exercises to reinforce your back while still relieving pain.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can also improve, as can minimizing physical labour and uncomfortable positions.
Although it may be easy to avoid any physical exercise while suffering from the pain and irritation of a slipped disc, doing so may result in muscle fatigue and joint stiffness. Instead, stay as healthy as possible by stretching or engaging in low-impact exercises like cycling. Chiropractic treatment is also an excellent option for treating slipped discs.