If you’ve been suffering from back pain, leg pain, or weakness of any lower extremities, you may have a herniated disc. This happens when the cushion between the spinal vertebra is pushed outside its normal position or is herniated. That herniation aggravates the spinal nerves causing the pain and weakness.
Vulnerable to injury or rupture
The spine has bones, or discs, and a soft cushion that sits between them. In a young person spinal discs are soft and elastic, but as we age they become more rigid. As they lose their elasticity they become vulnerable to injury or rupture. When a disc ruptures, part of it pushes outside its normal boundary causing the herniation. When this happens the spinal nerves and spinal cord can become pinched or compressed. It can happen due to an injury or because of repetitive strain of the spine.
Signals misfired
When the nerves become compressed or pinched they tend not to work correctly and the signals to the brain are misfired. The signals can cause an electric shock pain down the arms or legs, depending on where the herniation happens. The misfired signals could cause tingling or numbness that feel like pins and needles, muscle weakness and even bowel or bladder problems.
Physical therapy
If you have any of these problems see your doctor. Depending on the severity of the herniation, they may tell you to put heat and ice on the area. They may have you go to physical therapy. Physical therapy can be very helpful and possibly prevent you from having to undergo the most invasive treatment, surgery.
If you have back pain in Denver, please schedule a FREE Pain Evaluation!
