Herniated Disk

HERNIATED DISK

A herniated disk is also known as a slipped, ruptured or bulging disk is the most cause of neck, back and leg pain which come as an injury of the spine (backbone). You have a series of bones (vertebrae) in your spine, stretching from the base of your skull (Cervical) to your tailbone (Coccyx).

Between your vertebrae are round cushions called disks and these disks act as cushions between your bones, allowing you to bend and move with ease. When one of these disk tears or leaks, it’s called a herniated disk.

Herniated disks are a leading cause of neck and/or arm, and back and/or leg pain (sciatica). They can happen anywhere along the spine, but herniated disks most often occur in the lower back (Lumbar) or the neck.

Causes

Disks have soft, gel-like centers and a firmer outer layer, like a jelly doughnut. With time, the outer layer weakens and can crack. A herniated disk happens when the inner “jelly” substance pushes through the crack then the leaked material may press on nearby spinal nerves.

Disk herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called disk degeneration. As people age, the disks become less flexible and more prone to tearing or rupturing with even a minor strain or twist.

Most people can't pinpoint the cause of their herniated disk. Sometimes, using the back muscles instead of the leg and thigh muscles to lift heavy objects can lead to a herniated disk, as can twisting and turning while lifting.

Symptoms

Most herniated disks occur in the lower back, but they can also occur in the neck. Signs and symptoms depend on where the disk is situated and whether the disk is pressing on a nerve. Herniated disks pain usually affect one side of the leg which become numb.

Arm or leg pain. If your herniated disk is in your lower back, besides pain in your lower back, you'll typically feel pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf. You might have pain in part of the foot as well.

For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm. This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning.

Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.
Weakness. Muscles served by the affected nerves tend to weaken. This can cause you to stumble, or affect your ability to lift or hold items.

Herniated disk symptoms vary depending on where the problem is in your spine. Symptoms worsen with movement and get better with rest.

Risk factors

Factors that can increase the risk of a herniated disk include:

Age. People who are 30 -50 years and above are most likely to get herniated disc. The problem, affects men twice as often as women.
Weight. Excess body weight causes extra stress on the disks in the lower back.
Occupation. People with physically demanding jobs have a greater risk of back problems. Repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting also can increase the risk of a herniated disk.
Genetics. Some people inherit a predisposition to developing a herniated disk.
Smoking. It's thought that smoking lessens the oxygen supply to disks, causing them to break down more quickly.
Frequent driving. Being seated for long periods combined with the vibration from the motor vehicle engine can put pressure on the spine.
Being sedentary. People sitting for long period of time in the same place

Prevention

To help prevent a herniated disk, do the following:

Exercise. Strengthening the trunk muscles stabilizes and supports the spine.
Maintain good posture. This reduces pressure on your spine and disks. Keep your back straight and aligned, particularly when sitting for long periods. Lift heavy objects properly, making your legs — not your back — do most of the work.
Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts more pressure on the spine and disks, making them more susceptible to herniation.
Quit smoking. Avoid the use of any tobacco products.

Complications

Seek emergency medical attention if you have:

Worsening symptoms. Pain, numbness or weakness can increase to the point that they hamper your daily activities.
Bladder or bowel dysfunction. Cauda equina syndrome can cause incontinence or difficulty urinating even with a full bladder.
Saddle anesthesia. This progressive loss of sensation affects the areas that would touch a saddle — the inner thighs, back of the legs and the area around the rectum.

Diagnosis

In most cases of herniated disk, we shall take a medical history from the patient thereafter physical examination will be done.

If your doctors (Homeopaths) that you have herniated disc we shall do the following tests to make a diagnosis.

Imaging tests

X-rays. Plain X-rays don't detect herniated disks, but they can rule out other causes of back pain, such as an infection, tumor, spinal alignment issues or a broken bone.
CT scan. A CT scanner takes a series of X-rays from different directions and then combines them to create cross-sectional images of the spinal column and the structures around it.
MRI. Radio waves and a strong magnetic field are used to create images of the body's internal structures. This test can be used to confirm the location of the herniated disk and to see which nerves are affected.

Treatment

Depending on the totality of characteristic symptoms of the patient, Homeopathic medicine is the answer to this condition and there are high chances of getting cure I can assure you.

Herniated Disk

Herniated Disk

HERNIATED DISK

Imaging tests

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