Do You Have A Herniated Disc In Your Back?

In most cases, people with back pains, leg pains or weakness in lower extremity muscles are commonly diagnosed with herniated discs. Herniated disc occurs when the cushion between vertebral get pushed outside its normal resting position. At times this condition goes unnoticed unless it starts to cause pain. The pain is most commonly caused when the herniated discs cause pressure on the nerve roots. This can either lead to intense pain or numbness.

Basically, the herniated disc occurs when the spinal discs become less elastic. This in the process leads to its rupturing after pushing outside its boundaries. The condition causes pain when the bulging of the discs pinches the nerves. If the bulging is more intense, it will lead to compression which can be more painful hence requiring medical attention to decompress them.

Causes

A herniated disc can be caused by a number of reasons. The most common cause of the herniated discs is the occurrence of an accident. This does not necessarily have to be severe but also a fall can lead to the condition. Another common cause of this spinal condition is straining. This occurs especially after doing regular chores which leads to spinal strains for example weight lifting. Age too can cause the disc problems.

However, in most cases, people who experience this condition already had spinal stenosis. This is a condition which leads to the narrowing of the distance between the spinal cord and the spinal nerves. When the herniated discs occur, this leads to the further narrowing of the space. This in the process leads to irritation of the nerves due to the pressure which is applied on them by the bulging spinal discs.

Symptoms

Do you have a herniated disc in your back?

With the problem being fatal with severity, most people often ask this question. This is because at times, with so many diseases today, people find it hard to understand the symptoms. Here are a few symptoms related to this condition.

1. Electric shock pain

This is the most common symptom of the herniated discs. It is caused by pressure applied to the nerve by the herniated discs. This leads to abnormal sensations which are experienced as electric shock pains. When the compression is in the cervical area (neck), the shock sensations are experienced in the arms. When in the lumbar area, the shocks are experienced in the legs.

2. Numbness and tingling

Patients with this condition experience tingling (like pins and needles) in the arms or legs depending on the area of the compression; cervical or lumbar. Numbness can also be experienced in the same areas. This is also due to the pressure on the nerves.

3. Muscle weakness

Due to the compression which leads to pressure on the nerve roots, signals sent from body parts to the brain can be interrupted. This leads to the feeling of weak muscles due to poor coordination. Examination of reflexes is an effective method to test for nerve irritation.

4. Bladder or bowel problems

This is a common outcome of cauda equine syndrome; a condition which is caused by this discs. If you are experiencing problems urinating, bowel movement problems or numbness around the genitals, one should seek immediate medical attention. It is an emergency.

Conclusion

Most of the herniated disc symptoms are caused by nerve obstruction. Immediate medical attention should therefore be sort before the problem gets severe. A best neurosurgeon in Chennai can help establish this condition or taking an MRI.