Herniated discs can cause significant discomfort and impact your ability to move freely. Whether it’s back pain, neck pain, or shooting pain in your legs or arms, the symptoms can vary widely.
As a chiropractor, I’ve worked with patients to manage these symptoms using a combination of spinal adjustment or manipulation, gentle exercises, and lifestyle changes.
Here’s everything you need to know about herniated disks, their causes, and how to find relief.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
These soft cushion-like discs sit between, and connect, the bones of your spine (called vertebrae) and act as shock absorbers which also allows movement between the vertebrae. They are a bit like a small roll of stick tape with jelly in the middle: layers of fibrous tissue on the outside with gel in the middle.
Pain or other symptoms caused by as herniated disc, also known as a slipped disc, ruptured disk, or prolapsed disc, occurs when the jelly like inner disc tissue pushes through the outer layer of fibrous tissue and irritates nearby spinal nerves. This can cause pain, numbness other strange feelings in the parts of the body supplied by the nerve or muscle weakness.
- Common areas affected include the neck (cervical spine) and lower back (herniated lumbar disk).
- Herniated discs in the neck are likely to cause pain in the neck and arms. In the mid and upper back they can cause pain locally and also severe pain going around with the ribs to your front. In the low low back they are likely to cause low back pain and leg and foot pain.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc
The symptoms depend on the location and severity of the disk herniation:
- Pain: Localized to the back or neck and sometimes radiating to the arms or legs (sciatica).
- Numbness or tingling: Often felt in the extremities due to nerve irritation.
- Muscle weakness pain: Difficulty walking lifting or holding objects, or even trouble standing.
- Severe cases: May lead to pain or other strange feeling around your bottom or groin, worsening muscle weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or difficulty walking, potentially indicating cauda equina syndrome. This is am medical emergency and you need to dial 999 or 112.
Diagnosing a Herniated Disc
Chiropractors and healthcare providers rely on a combination of tools:
- Medical history: Understanding when and how symptoms began.
- Physical examination: Testing muscle strength, reflexes, and mobility, often using techniques like the straight leg raise test to identify nerve involvement.
- Further tests: Imaging studies such as an MRI scan can confirm the location and extent of the disk herniation.
Causes and Risk Factors
Herniated discs can result from:
- Ageing: Natural disc degeneration makes the discs less flexible and more prone to rupture.
- Lifting heavy objects: Using poor technique can strain the spine and cause a slipped disc.
- Repetitive movements: Activities that stress the spine over long periods.
- Injury: A serious accident or trauma can lead to a ruptured disk.
Risk factors include:
- Sedentary lifestyle: Excessive sitting and lack of regular exercise throughout the day weakens the back muscles.
- Improper lifting techniques: Not bending your knees when picking up heavy objects.
- Obesity: Extra weight increases strain on the spine.
- Smoking: Affects the discs’ ability to absorb nutrients.
Treatment Options for Herniated Discs
Most cases of disk herniation improve with conservative nonsurgical treatments. Here’s what I recommend:
Nonsurgical Treatments
- Bed rest: Short periods of rest can help, but staying active with gentle exercise is key to recovery. Prolonged bed rest can prolong recovery or even perpetuate the problem.
- Physical therapy: A physical therapist can teach you simple exercises to strengthen the spine and improve flexibility.
- Spinal manipulation or adjustment : Chiropractic adjustments aim to restore proper movement patterns and realign the spine reducing pressure on nerves, and relieving sciatica pain.
- Pain medication: can mask the pain, eliminating warning signals, rather than addressing the root cause.
Surgical Treatment
In rare cases, slipped disc surgery may be necessary, especially if:
- Symptoms persist after an extended period of conservative care.
- MRI imaging indicates it is essential.
- There’s worsening muscle weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or nerve damage.
Emergency surgery may be needed if you experience these severe symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Herniated Discs
Preventing a herniated disc starts with building healthy habits:
- Start gentle exercise: Activities like walking or swimming strengthen the back muscles.
- Practice good posture: Sit and stand with your spine aligned.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects improperly: Bend your knees, not your back.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Extra pounds increase strain on the spine.
- Take breaks: Avoid sitting for long periods to reduce stress on your spine.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
It’s crucial to act quickly if you experience:
- Worsening pain that doesn’t improve.
- Shivery unexplained weight loss or fever.
- Difficulty urinating, pain or numbness around your bottom or in the groin, or loss of bladder or bowel control (cauda equina syndrome).
- Severe pain numbness or muscle weakness pain in the legs.
These could indicate serious complications requiring urgent care medical attention so dial 999/112.
Frequently Asked Questions About Herniated Discs
1. What causes a prolapsed or herniated disc?
A prolapsed or herniated disc occurs when the soft centre of a spinal disc (disc tissue) pushes through its tougher outer layer, often due to wear and tear or injury. Factors like ageing, improper lifting techniques (like hard lifting heavy objects), and repetitive strain increase the risk of slipped disks. Regular exercise and proper posture can help keep your spine healthy may reduce your risk.
2. How does back muscle weakness pain relate to a herniated disc?
Back muscle weakness pain is a common symptom of a herniated disc, as the spine pushes on nearby spinal nerves, interrupting signals to the surrounding muscles. This can lead to reduced strength, difficulty lifting objects, and even trouble maintaining balance.
3. How is a herniated disc diagnosed?
The history of your problem and the way you walk often give the first clues to your clinician. A physical exam is the next step in diagnosing a herniated disc. During the exam, your chiropractor or healthcare provider will test your muscle strength, reflexes, and mobility. They might also perform a straight leg raise test to identify nerve involvement. Imaging tests like an MRI scan may be recommended if symptoms persist or are severe.
4. Can chiropractic care help with sciatic pain caused by a herniated disc?
Yes! A herniated lumbar disk is a common cause of sciatic nerve pain, which often manifests as sharp, shooting pain down one leg. Chiropractic care, including a course of adjustments, aka spinal manipulation, can help reduce sciatica. Combined with other treatments like gentle exercise, it’s an effective way to manage sciatica although results do vary.
5. When should I discuss surgery for a herniated disc?
Most slipped disks improve with nonsurgical treatments, but you should discuss surgery with your healthcare provider if:
- Symptoms persist for several weeks despite conservative care.
- You experience worsening muscle weakness, loss of bladder (pee lose feeling), or bowel dysfunction as well as pain or unusual sensations around your bottom or your groin — potentially signs of cauda equina syndrome.
- Severe nerve compression is detected during imaging tests.
In these cases, surgery may be necessary to prevent long-term damage.
6. Can a herniated disc cause serious symptoms like fever or unexplained weight loss?
In rare cases, a herniated disc can be associated with very high temperatures or shivery unexplained weight loss if there’s an underlying infection or another serious condition. These symptoms require immediate medical attention to rule out infections or other complications involving the spine.
7. How can I prevent a slipped disk as I age?
While ageing naturally increases the risk of disc degeneration, you can reduce your chances of developing a slipped disk with the following strategies:
- Exercising regularly to strengthen the muscles that support your spine.
- Practicing good posture during daily activities.
- Avoiding lifting heavy objects improperly; always bend your knees, not your back.
Conclusion
Herniated discs can be challenging, but with the right combination of nonsurgical treatments, lifestyle adjustments, and chiropractic care, you can find relief and prevent future problems. If you’re experiencing back pain, neck pain, or muscle weakness, reach out to a trusted chiropractor for an opinion and comprehensive treatment plan.
About Us
I’m Charles Sawyer, Cofounder of The Chiropractors. Our team of qualified chiropractors, with over a century of combined experience, primarily focus on managing spinal conditions like disk herniation using evidence-based chiropractic care. Our goal is to help patients regain their mobility and live pain-free healthy lives.
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