What is a herniated disc?
Although we are certainly not doctors, we do see many of the same injuries. It then becomes necessary for us to be familiar with some basic terminology. Although the doctors will explain the results of an MRI with their patients, quite often the patients do not fully understand the nature of their injuries. We feel that it is important for our clients to have a complete understanding of their injuries. A herniated disc is due to tears in the annulus (the outer layer of the disc). When this occurs, the inner nucleus can herniate out and may cause pressure on an adjacent nerve. If the herniation occurs in the neck and causes pressure there, it may cause pain that radiates into the shoulder and arm. If the herniation occurs in the back, the pain produced may radiate down into the hip, groin or leg. A disc herniation cannot be seen on regular X-rays; it can only be seen on MRI.
A herniated disc is a spinal abnormality, frequently the result of wear and tear on the body, or injury. It is referred to my many different names, which tend to be used interchangeably, although they may not be completely accurate. Some of the most common terms used to describe this condition are pinched nerve, ruptured disc, slipped disc and sciatica. While these terms are widely used, technically, a pinched nerve is not the same as a herniated disc. It is in fact the result of a herniated disc, which causes the nerve to become pinched. It is therefore important to distinguish the two, in order for the doctor to locate the actual source of the pain and to treat it properly. The term sciatica is casually used to describe many different types of back pain. However, sciatica really refers to the sciatic nerve, which generally causes lower back pain or pain in the legs. Sciatica, much like other pinched nerves, is often the result of a herniated disc. While the lumbar spine or lower back
A disc is the fibrous cartilage pads that lie between the spinal vertebrae; each is made up of two parts: a jelly-like center (the nucleus pulposus) that loses moisture with age, and a tough outer ring (the annulus fibrosus) that can split with age or injury A herniated disc occurs when the disc’s jelly-like center (the nucleus pulposus) ruptures the tough, fibrous outer ring (the annulus fibrosus) oozing through small openings in the vertebrae where nerves enter the spinal column.
