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What is a herniated disc?

A herniated disc occurs when the nucleus, the jelly-like center of a spinal disc, pushes out through a tear in the spinal disc exterior (also known as the annulus). This can occur in any part of the spine and affects the nearby nerve.

Symptoms of a herniated disc

The symptoms of a herniated disc depend on where the disk is located and whether it is pressing on a nerve.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

Arm or leg pain
If the herniated disc is located at the lower back, the pain could be mostly felt at the buttocks, thigh, and calf. If it is in the neck, the pain could be mostly felt in the shoulders and arms.

Numbness or tingling
Aside from pain, there can also be numbness or tingling sensation, radiating to body parts served by the affected nerves.

Weakness
There can be muscle weakness in areas served by the affected nerve. This can affect your ability to move, lift, or hold objects.

How is herniated disc treated?

Initially, more conservative measures are recommended to manage the symptoms. This may include rest, avoidance of certain movements that trigger the pain, and medications (e.g. over-the-counter, cortisone injections, muscle relaxants).

Physical therapy may also be recommended to help manage the pain.

If the symptoms persist after six weeks of conservative treatment, the doctor may recommend surgery. The most common procedures performed for herniated discs include discectomy, laminotomy, spinal fusion, and artificial disc replacement.