What is a Herniated Intervertebral Disk?
When a person suffers from severe back pain, it can often be caused by a herniated intervertebral disk. A herniated intervertebral disk is a disk within the vertebrae that has degenerated. The spine is comprised of 33 vertebrae, each divided by these important disks. The core of each disk possesses a jelly-like substance that helps the body to sustain weight and absorb shock as it bends and twists. When a person ages, the disks begin to deteriorate, losing their suppleness. As a result, a disc can prolapse, meaning some of the soft core can leak out. When the soft core of the disks are squeezed out, less cushion exists among the disks of the vertebrae. This, in turn, can cause neck pain, back pain, nerve pressure, numbness, and sharp pain in the legs. Eventually, the spine will lose stability and bone spurs will form. A herniated disk can occur in both the lumbar spine (lower back) and the cervical spine (neck).
