A herniated disc is a bulging of one of the small, round discs between the bones of the spine. A disc that bulges from its proper place puts pressure on spinal nerves. It can cause pain and weakness in limbs. Problems are more common in the lower spine.
Herniated Lumbar DiscCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Common causes are:
This problem is more common in older adults. Other things that may raise the risk are:
The main symptom is pain that may:
Other problems may be:
The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the spine. Images may be taken of the spine. This can be done with:
Most people start to feel better in a few days or weeks. Staying active may be better than full rest. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms. Choices are:
People who are not helped by these methods may need surgery. Choices are:
North American Spine Society
http://www.spine.org
Ortho Info—American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.orthoinfo.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org
Deyo RA, Mirza SK. CLINICAL PRACTICE. Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disk. N Engl J Med. 2016 May 5;374(18):1763-1772.
Herniated disk in the lower back. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/herniated-disk-in-the-lower-back. Accessed February 17, 2021.
Lumbar disk herniation. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/lumbar-disk-herniation. Accessed February 17, 2021.
Last reviewed February 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM