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Back Pain and Herniated Discs
A herniated disc occurs when a fragment of the inner gel-like substance,
called the nucleus, is pushed out of the outer disc margin, into the spinal
canal through a tear or rupture. In the herniated disc's new position, the
disc presses on a spinal nerve, producing pain going down the corresponding
leg.
Disc herniations are a common cause of low back pain and leg pain
(sciatica). Symptoms may include dull or sharp pain, muscle spasm or
cramping, sciatica, and leg weakness or loss of leg function. Sneezing,
coughing, or bending over usually intensifies the pain. A herniation may
develop suddenly or gradually over weeks or months.
Disc herniation, rupture, protrusion, and extrusion are all terms that
describe this injury. There are subtle differences among these terms, but
they all refer to a tear in the outer ring, which allows some of the inner
core to escape.
Why does a disc get herniated?
As you grow older, your discs become flatter and less cushiony. If a disc
becomes too weak, the outer part may tear. The inside part of the disc
pushes through the tear and presses on the nerves beside it. Herniated discs
are most common in people in their 40s and 50s.
What are the signs of a herniated disc?
When part of a disc presses on a nerve, it can cause pain in both the back
and the legs. The location of the pain depends on which disc is herniated
and which nerve is affected. In most people with a herniated disc, the pain
spreads over the buttocks and goes down the back of one thigh and into the
calf. Some people have pain in both legs. Sometimes legs or feet feel numb
or tingly.
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