subject: Slipped Disk Or Herniated Disk?, Low Back Pain, Slipped Disk, Chiropractor [print this page] Slipped Disk or Herniated Disk? Slipped Disk or Herniated Disk?
A "slipped disk" is a common term used when describing lower back injuries. Disks don't actually slip, Instead they may become herniated or bulge from between the bones. The term herniated disk means that a small part of the center or nucleus of the disk has pushed through a tear in the exterior part or annulus of the disk. Pain is caused by irritants that are released from the tear, and also if the fragment of the nucleus is allowed to touch or compress any nearby nerves. Symptoms of herniated disk may resemble those of degenerative disk disease. In fact disks that get herniated are often in an early stage of degeneration. The most common place for a herniated disk to occur is in the low back or lumbar spine.
How did I get a herniated disk?
The risk of a herniated disk is increased by many factors. Smoking, lack of exercise and poor nutrition all contribute to poor disk health, and are generally poor life style choices. A few things that can further stress a disk are incorrect lifting, injury and trauma, and poor posture. If your disk is already in poor health, something as minor as sneezing or coughing may cause enough strain to herniate your disk.
How will I know if I have a herniated disk?
People over age of 30, have a better chance of experiencing a herniated disk. A herniated disk may be present without causing pain. Pain in the area of the herniated disk is the most common symptom, this pain may also radiate into the hips and/or buttocks If you have a herniated disk, you might also have numbness or pain down your leg into your ankle or foot. Sometimes the bulge is large enough to affect the way you walk, you might have weakness while extending your big toe. You also might be unable to walk on your heels or toes. If you have a severely herniated disk, there may be changes in your bladder, or bowel function, and you may have decreased sexual function.
What is the treatment for a herniated disk?
A disk that is mildly or moderately herniated may be treated with stretching, exercise and chiropractic care. severely herniated disks may require some form of spinal decompression along with chiropractic care. This may include traction or mechanical decompression.
Surgery is occasionally needed for a very severely herniated disk. Surgery should be considered only as a last resort if other types of therapy have failed, or if there is severe compression of the spinal cord or nerves.
