HERNIATED DISCS
Herniated discs are diseased intervertebral discs that cause pain in your back. They form when there is a problem with the rubbery cushions between the vertebral bones of your spine. Each disc of the spine looks like a jelly doughnut. These jelly donuts get weaker due to age, dehydration, injury and have the ability to wear and tear. This tear (rupture) is known as disc herniation or better still, herniated disc.
HOW THEY HAPPEN
Most herniated discs occur in your lower back (lumbar spine), although they can also occur in your middle back (thoracic spine) and neck (cervical spine).
They occur most commonly in between 20 and 50 years of age. They occur less often in the elderly because of disc degeneration and dehydration preventing the jelly from rupturing out of the disc. As you get older, the bones of your back become worn and torn due to wear and tear. The reason for this wear and tear is the loss of flexibility of your backbone due to old age.
Another way herniated discs occur is when you lift weights improperly. When you use your back muscles to lift heavy objects instead of your glute and thigh muscles, the chances to get a herniated disc is increased. This puts too much pressure on the jelly donut, forcing the jelly to push to one side of the disc, leading to a herniation.
Although rare, you can get herniated discs from a sharp sudden movement, such as an accident. This happens because traumatic events can put too much pressure on the spinal column, forcing the jelly outwards, causing a herniation.
SYMPTOMS
There are various types of herniated discs, all of which can have different symptoms and severity.
A herniation can lead to pain in your arms and legs due to direct pressure on the nerve roots. If you suffer a herniated disc in the lower part of your back, you will feel some intense pains in your buttocks, thigh and calf. It can also hurt to extend your foot and toes.
When the herniated disc is in your neck region, you may feel pain in your neck, radiating from your shoulders to your fingers. This pain usually gets more painful whenever you sneeze, cough, or bear down.
Another common symptom of a disc herniation is numbness or tingling. If the herniated disc is severe enough, such that it affected some nerves in the region where it occurred, you might start lose feeling or have the sensation of tingling in your arms or legs.
Muscle weakness is another symptom of herniated discs. Since the affected nerves are attached to the muscles, those muscles may be weak due to the pressure on the nerve. This can cause weakness of the body parts that control your balance, causing your to trip or fall, as well as prevent you from holding or lifting items with your hands.
You can also have a herniated disc that does not have symptoms. Some people only find out about a herniated disc after being medically examined.
HOW THEY AFFECT DAILY LIFE
Herniated discs can affect your daily life in various ways. They can reduce your ability to stand, sit, or lie down in the same place for any extended period of time. Basic activities such as bathing, brushing your teeth, or dressing up may become very difficult to carry out. Eventually, you may need a cane or walking aid to help you move.
Difficult tasks such as operating heavy equipment, playing sports, or even driving can be extremely painful. This can prevent you from acting appropriately to prevent an accident from happening.
TREATMENT
Chiropractic treatments are designed to correct herniated discs. Chiropractors realign the bones in your neck, back, and whole body to gently restore normal motion and function of the problem area. Chiropractic adjustments awaken the nervous system affected by the slipped disc.
Hence, the pains you are feeling can be greatly reduced, as well as help you get back to normal daily activities. Less pain means less time off of work. Getting chiropractic treatment is safe and can help you get your life back.