We often imagine our spine to be a singular piece of bone structure but in reality, our spine is many small moving parts aka our discs, working together in harmony to enable proper mobility. A disc is described as a jelly-like padding that sits between our vertebrae. Sometimes though, due to various reasons these discs might suddenly move out of place.
When this occurs, we say we might have a Slipped Disc. Herniated Disc or more commonly known as a slipped disc affects the spine, most commonly the lumbar area. Though it can occur anywhere along the spine, it most commonly affects the lower back or neck region. Whenever there is a compression on the disc, the fibrous portion of the disc ruptures allowing the soft jelly-like portion to come out.
Symptoms often depend on where the disc is located and whether the disc is pressing on any nerve. Some common symptoms include :
Pain at site of injury
Pain, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
Pain that worsens when bending, twisting and/or sitting
Muscle spasm
Loss of bladder control
It is possible that you may have a slipped disc without experiencing any symptoms however it is advisable to consult a doctor the moment you start experiencing any of the symptoms stated above. Why so? The problem doesn't lie in the herniation but rather when some part of the disc compresses the nerve because pain and loss of mobility usually follows. Both these issues are major and have to be addressed urgently.
There are several causes on this compression. Here are some of the most common :
Age related wear and tear
Long sitting hours, excess body weight, sedentary lifestyle
Too much of bending activity and sudden twist of the spine
Heavy lifting
Herniated discs can compress a nerve most commonly the sciatic nerve resulting in shooting or burning pain, numbness or tingling sensation going down your legs till the toes.
In severe cases it can also affect your bowel bladder and kidney functions.
Taking medications can temporarily help with the pain however in the long run, to ensure proper operation of your organs, we recommend visiting an Osteopath. An Osteopath will manipulate the spine, pelvis, hip and release the tension in the spine and muscles, put the disc back in place and also release the compression of sciatic nerve.
In just a couple of sessions, you will notice reduction in your pain and numbness. Contact us now for more information on a treatment plan!
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