What is Disc Herniation?
Herniation describes an abnormal condition of an
intervertebral disc that is also referred to as a "slipped"
disc, "ruptured" disc or "blown" disc. It is not known what
causes the disc to herniate but it is thought to occur from
(1) Trauma
(2) repetitive stress due to occupation, poor posture or
other external factors
(3) natural processes of aging.
The process of herniation occurs when the inner nucleus
pulposis bulges through the annulus fibrosis causing a
protruding disc which may push on a spinal nerve. It can
progress to the point where the inner material (nucleus
pulposis) leaks out of the disc. When this happens, the
body mounts an auto-immune response to the disc
material (nucleus pulposis) which causes severe
inflammation and progressive deterioration of the nerve
root. If the herniated disc is located in the cervical spine
(neck), the symptoms can be neck pain with/without arm
pain and/or numbness. If the herniated disc is located in
the lumbar spine (low back), the symptoms can be low
back pain with/without leg pain and/or numbness. This
type of pain and/or numbness in the legs or arms is
referred to as a "Radiculopathy". This is due to the fact
that the nerves that exit your spinal cord innervate
("attach to") the skin in your arms and legs (responsible for
sensation), muscles in your arms and legs (responsible for
movement) and reflexes in your arms and legs. This is why
some people with these conditions experience extremity
(leg/arm) pain/numbness/tingling and weakness when
they have a disc herniation. Surprisingly, people with
herniated disc may only complain of extremity (arm/leg)
pain with minimal neck or low back pain.
Herniation describes an abnormal condition of an
intervertebral disc that is also referred to as a "slipped"
disc, "ruptured" disc or "blown" disc. It is not known what
causes the disc to herniate but it is thought to occur from
(1) Trauma
(2) repetitive stress due to occupation, poor posture or
other external factors
(3) natural processes of aging.
The process of herniation occurs when the inner nucleus
pulposis bulges through the annulus fibrosis causing a
protruding disc which may push on a spinal nerve. It can
progress to the point where the inner material (nucleus
pulposis) leaks out of the disc. When this happens, the
body mounts an auto-immune response to the disc
material (nucleus pulposis) which causes severe
inflammation and progressive deterioration of the nerve
root. If the herniated disc is located in the cervical spine
(neck), the symptoms can be neck pain with/without arm
pain and/or numbness. If the herniated disc is located in
the lumbar spine (low back), the symptoms can be low
back pain with/without leg pain and/or numbness. This
type of pain and/or numbness in the legs or arms is
referred to as a "Radiculopathy". This is due to the fact
that the nerves that exit your spinal cord innervate
("attach to") the skin in your arms and legs (responsible for
sensation), muscles in your arms and legs (responsible for
movement) and reflexes in your arms and legs. This is why
some people with these conditions experience extremity
(leg/arm) pain/numbness/tingling and weakness when
they have a disc herniation. Surprisingly, people with
herniated disc may only complain of extremity (arm/leg)
pain with minimal neck or low back pain.
Disc Herniation
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