What Is A Herniated Disc?

According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, “A herniated disk refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) that sit between the bones (vertebrae) that stack to make your spine. A spinal disk has a soft, jellylike center (nucleus) encased in a tougher, rubbery exterior (annulus). Sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk, a herniated disk occurs when some of the nucleus pushes out through a tear in the annulus.”

What Causes A Herniated Disc?

Unfortunately, herniated discs become more common with age. Any repetitive movements, improper lifting, bending, high impact workouts or injuries, or simply being overweight can cause a herniated disc in the lower back or herniated disc in the neck.

Herniated Discs Are Most Common In The Lower Back

Only about 2% of adults will suffer a herniated disc each year, but if you’ve ever had one, you know the pain can take your breath away and keep you from your normal activities. A herniated disc can occur anywhere in your spine, but it is most common in the lower back at L4-L5, followed by L5-S1. The most common age to suffer a herniated disc in the lower back are men and women 30 – 50 years old.

A herniated disc in the lower back can cause pain, numbness, or tingling throughout your arms and legs. Think of a disc in your back as a shock absorber. As it starts to move or slip out of its natural position, your back/spine/lumbar isn’t getting the shock absorption it needs and that can be painful during a quick movement or heavy lifting.

Can A Lumbar Herniated Disc Cause Sciatica?

Yes, it can.

“Sciatica is a certain type of nerve pain that can be caused by a herniated lumbar disc compressing the sciatic nerve. You have 2 sciatic nerves, one on each side of the body. The sciatic nerve originates in the spine and extends down the leg. When a disc protrudes and presses on the sciatic nerve, pain extends from the buttock and thigh down into the leg and below the knee, sometimes even into the foot,” according to Spine Universe.

One of the things that set our medical team apart is that we get to the root of the problem. If you come to us complaining of sciatica pain, we don’t just treat or help get rid of your sciatica pain, we work to see what is actually causing your pain, so we can get rid of all the chronic pain associated with it. We don’t want to put a Band-Aid on chronic pain; we want to resolve it so you can go back to living your normal, everyday life, pain-free. By treating the herniated disc and working on physical therapy exercises, your body is less likely to recreate the same injury the next time you are lifting your grandchild or running a half marathon.

Herniated Disc With Sciatica

Think about your typical day. How much do you move? Do you go to the gym? Make sudden movements at your desk or while driving? Carry your laptop bag or your child around on your hip? Because of all the movement your back is doing on a daily basis, your spinal discs are incredibly susceptible to injury, causing your back to feel out of alignment.

By being out of alignment or out of its normal position, your disc can herniate (or bulge or rupture), leaking out chemical substances that can irritate and inflame one or more of the sciatic root nerves, causing pain, numbness, or tingling.

Does Herniated Disc Treatment Mean Surgery?

There are surgeries that may relieve LHD, but that’s not what we recommend at Ultimate Health Medical Clinic. Many of our patients feel immediate relief from their herniated disc pain, without the use of medications or surgery. By working on exercises and chiropractic adjustments that get the spine back in alignment and the nerve impingements off the spine, you’ll start to feel pain relief after your first visit.

Want to learn more how we can help with your herniated disc symptoms? Call us today for your free consultation.

You don’t have to live with herniated disc pain. Call our Littleton office today to schedule your free consultation and see how we can help relieve your herniated disc pain today without medication or surgery.

Call our medical office at 303.904.0331 to start your herniated disc treatment today and say goodbye to sciatica and other chronic back and neck pain. Ask about our same-day herniated disc treatment appointments or our emergency chiropractic services.