Herniated Disc

A spinal injury is a herniated disk. Your spine is made up of a number of bones that go from the base of your skull to your tailbone. You have disks, which are circular cushions, in between your vertebrae. Your bones are cushioned by the disks, which makes it easy for you to move and bend. A herniated disk is the result of one of these disks rupturing or leaking.

Symptoms of Herniated Disc: Although they can sometimes happen in the neck, herniated disks typically occur in the lower back. The location of the disk and whether it is pushing on a nerve determine the symptoms. One side of the body is typically affected by herniated disks.

• Arm or leg pain: You may experience pain in your lower back, buttocks, thigh, and calf if you have a lower back herniated disk. You may also be experiencing discomfort in a portion of your foot. Your arm and shoulder will usually hurt the most if you have a herniated disk in your neck. When you cough, sneeze, or move into specific positions, this pain may shoot into your arm or leg. Sharp or searing pain is a common description of pain.

• Numbness or tingling: People who have herniated disks often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.
• Weakness: The afflicted nerves' supplied muscles typically deteriorate. This may impair your ability to lift or grip objects, or it may make you stumble.

Causes of Herniated Disc: Disk herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called disk degeneration. As people age, the disks become less flexible and more prone to tearing or rupturing with even a minor strain or twist.

For most people, the etiology of their ruptured disk is unknown. A herniated disk can occasionally result from lifting large objects with the back muscles engaged rather than the leg and thigh muscles. An additional way to get a herniated disk is to twist and turn when lifting. Seldom is the reason a traumatic incident such a fall or knock to the back.

How is a herniated disk diagnosed ?

Your healthcare provider will do a thorough exam. During the physical, your provider will assess your pain, muscle reflexes, sensation and muscle strength. Your provider may also order tests such as:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• X-rays
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Myelogram
• Electromyogram (EMG)

Treatment of Herniated Disc: A herniated disc can develop anywhere along the spine, but the lower back is where it usually occurs. Depending on where it occurs, a herniated disc may result in pain, numbness, tingling sensation or weakness in an arm or leg.

Physical therapy can ease symptoms, stop flare-ups and recurrences, enhance lumbar spine function and mobility, and treat disc herniation. Spine Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) often includes a combination of therapies to help you relieve your pain, improve mobility and promote healing effectively and rapidly. We can help you:

• Relieve leg, lower back, and knee pain
• Reduce muscle spasms and neck pain
• Improve lower body mobility
• Restore pain-free movement
• Improve posture and motion
• Strengthen core muscles
• Improve strength and endurance
• prevent future pain flare-ups

We at Spine Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) can develop a one-on-one physical therapy treatment plan customized and suitable for your needs to help you recover more quickly. Our highly-trained physical therapists will make your treatment our primary focus and your recovery our primary goal.

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