Herniated discs, often called bulging or slipped discs, occur when a disc in the spine slips out of alignment. Herniated discs can be the result of many things, including injury, aging or regular wear and tear on the body.
Herniated discs can present with a range of symptoms, although some individuals with a herniated disc may not experience any symptoms at all. Symptoms of herniated discs include:
- Back pain
- Arm or leg pain
- Neck pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Muscle weakness
- Urinary urgency
- Urinary incontinence
According to the National Institutes of Health, herniated discs are one of the most common causes of lower back pain. Although they can be painful, the condition is not rare and there are many proven methods of treatment.
Risk Factors for Herniated Discs
Some individuals may be more likely to develop a herniated disc. The following factors may put you at a higher risk for the condition:
- Sedentary lifestyle or sitting for a long time
- Obesity
- Lifestyles that require heavy lifting or repetitive motion
- Aging
- Tobacco use
- Genetics
To prevent a herniated disc, make sure to get regular physical activity, complete with stretching, good posture and proper techniques. Keeping a healthy weight and avoiding or quitting smoking can also help prevent a herniated disc.
Treatment Options
Most herniated discs heal on their own over time. To ease pain, ice or heat, over-the-counter pain relievers and resting are often advised. Your primary care provider can offer additional advice on how to best care for your herniated disc.
Physical therapy and spinal injections may be required to resolve a herniated disc that does not go away on its own. Some severe cases may require surgery to prevent nerve damage or to ease pain when other methods are not successful. A small percentage of patients will not have a disc resorb – where the body breaks down and absorbs a herniated disc – on its own and will also require surgery.
UofL Health is Here to Help
Did you know UofL Health is the only health care provider in Kentucky to offer an endoscopic spine surgery option to treat conditions such as herniated discs? Using the elliquence® system, patients can experience a minimally invasive procedure and can go home the same day.
Patients using the elliquence system also report a one- to three-week recovery time and are off pain medication two to three days post-surgery. For more information on endoscopic spine surgery and to see if you qualify, click here.
Having a herniated disc can be painful, but the UofL Health – Comprehensive Spine Center, part of the UofL Health – Brain & Spine Institute, has a team of neurosurgeons and spine experts who are prepared to assist you in managing a herniated disc and other spinal conditions. To make an appointment or to learn more, please call 502-588-2160.
