Does your back hurt too? Let's talk about this herniated disk!

You're watching TV and you're about to get up, and a sharp pain shoots down your spine like lightning. Or you hear a 'click' in your back as you pick up a bag of groceries from the floor, and from there on, you feel a pain that makes you unable to move. Have you ever had an experience like this? Many people call this a "slipped disc." Medically, we call this condition a herniated disc . Let's take a look at what it really is, why it happens, and what can be done about it.

Simply put, what is a herniated disc?

To understand this, we first need to know a little about our spine. Our spine is made up of 24 tiny bones called vertebrae, stacked on top of each other. Between these bones, like a shock absorber in a car, is a soft cushion called an intervertebral disc.

This disk has two parts:

1. Inner part: Very soft like jelly. This is called `(Nucl EUS Pulposus)`.

2. Outer part: This is a tough, strong covering around the jelly. This is called the ``Annulus Fibrosus``.

A herniated disc is when, for some reason (for example, an accident, lifting a heavy object), the hard outer covering of the disc tears and the jelly inside leaks out. Think of it like squeezing a jam-filled donut and the jam spills out. When the protruding jelly compresses the nearby spinal cord or the nerves that exit it, symptoms such as unbearable pain, numbness, and weakness begin to appear.

Are 'Herniated Disk' and 'Bulging Disk' two different things?

Yes, there is a slight difference between these two conditions. Although many people confuse the two, the cause and the way they occur are different. The symptoms can be very similar.

Let's understand this difference more clearly from the table below.

What are the symptoms of this?

Sometimes a herniated disc can be asymptomatic . However, more often than not, symptoms will occur. These symptoms depend on the location of the herniated disc and the extent of the nerve compression.

Common symptoms are:

• Sharp, burning, or electric shock-like pain.
• Numbness or tingling in the area of ​​pain and the associated arm or leg.
• Muscle weakness around the area of ​​pain.
• Often these symptoms appear on only one side of the body.

Depending on the location of the pain

• Lumbar Spine: This is the most common type of pain. The pain starts in the lower back, travels down the buttocks, down the back of the thigh, and sometimes all the way to the foot . It feels like an electric shock . We also call this specific pain 'Sciatica'.
• In the neck (Cervical Spine): The pain may start in the neck and spread down the shoulder to the arm, and sometimes to the fingers .

This pain increases when working, standing, sitting, especially when coughing or sneezing. This is because the pressure on the pinched nerve increases at that time. The pain usually subsides a little when you rest.

Emergency Symptoms

Although this condition can usually be managed at home, if you have any of the following symptoms, they may be signs of an emergency . In such cases, you should go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.

• Pain in the arm or leg, accompanied by severe weakness in that area.
• Having a fever or infection.
• Loss of feeling in the genital area or around the anus.
• Inability to control bowel or bladder function (Bladder or bowel dysfunction).

These can be signs of serious damage to the spinal cord, so never ignore them.

How do you find this, Doctor?

If you have these symptoms, the best thing to do is see a doctor.

1. Physical Exam

First, the doctor will ask you about your pain and examine you. During this examination,

• They press on the painful areas of the back or neck.
• You will be told to lie down on the bed and do things like straighten your legs and bend them.
• Tests nerve function (reflexes) in the knee and ankle.
• The strength of the muscles in the arms and legs is tested.
• He tells them to walk on their heels and toes.

In most cases, the disease can be accurately diagnosed with this physical examination.

2. Other tests if necessary

Sometimes, your doctor may recommend further tests to rule out other medical conditions or to pinpoint the exact nerve that is being pinched.

• X-ray: A herniated disk cannot be seen on a regular X-ray, but it can help determine if the pain is due to another cause, such as a fracture or tumor.
• MRI Scan: `(Magnetic Resonance Imaging)` is a test that uses a magnetic field to produce very clear 3D images of the spine and discs. This is the best way to see exactly where a herniated disc is and which nerves it is pressing on.
• CT Scan: `(Computerized Tomography)` is a method that creates cross-sectional images of the spine by collecting a large number of X-rays.
• EMG/NCS: `(Electromyogram and Nerve Conduction Studies)` are tests that are used to determine if a nerve is damaged or irritated. This involves sending very small electrical signals to the muscles and nerves and measuring their activity.

How long will it take to heal? What are the treatments?

Although this may sound scary, the good news is that most herniated disc conditions heal on their own within a few weeks or months, without requiring surgery.

Things you can do for a faster recovery:

1. Rest: Avoid things that increase pain, such as lifting weights, bending, and staying in the same position for long periods of time.

2. Medication: You can take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs as prescribed by your doctor.

3. Cold and hot packs: Ice packs are good for reducing pain and swelling in the first two days. After two days, you can use hot packs to relax the muscles.

4. Physical Therapy: Once the pain has subsided, your doctor will refer you to a physical therapist. Exercises that strengthen the muscles of the back and abdomen and teach you proper posture can help prevent the condition from recurring.

Only if these simple treatments do not provide relief, the doctor may recommend steroid injections or, very rarely, surgery.

Back pain, herniated disk, sciatica, lumbar spine, cervical spine