Bariatric Surgery

What is a Slipped Disc?

Overview

Our spinal column is made up of a series of bones (vertebrae) that are stacked on top of each other. The column is made up of seven bones in the cervical spine, 12 in the thoracic spine, and five in the lumbar spine, followed by the sacrum and coccyx at the base. Discs cushion these bones. The discs protect the bones by absorbing shocks from daily activities such as walking, lifting, and twisting.

Symptoms of slipped disc:

  • Pain and numbness, usually on one side of the body, that extends to your arms or legs
  • pain that worsens at night or when performing certain movements
  • pain that gets worse after standing or sitting pain that gets worse when walking short distances
  • Muscle weakness that is unexplained
  • sensations of tingling, aching, or burning in the affected area

Diagnosis of slipped disc:

Your doctor will first conduct a physical examination. They'll be looking for the source of your discomfort and pain. This includes assessing your nerve function and muscle strength, as well as whether you experience pain when moving or touching the affected area. Your doctor will also inquire about your medical history and symptoms. They'll want to know when you first noticed symptoms and what activities make your pain worse.  Your doctor will advise some imaging tests like CT scan, MRI scan and X-ray to view the bones and muscles of your spine and identify any damaged areas.

Causes of Slipped disc: The outer ring of a slipped disc becomes weak or torn, allowing the inner portion to slip out. This is something that can happen as you get older. A slipped disc can also be caused by certain movements. When twisting or turning to lift an object, a disc can slip out of place. Lifting a large, heavy object can put a lot of strain on the lower back, leading to a slipped disc. If you work in a physically demanding job that requires a lot of lifting, you may be more prone to slipped discs.

Overweight people are also more likely to have a slipped disc because their discs must support the extra weight. A sedentary lifestyle and weak muscles may also contribute to the development of a slipped disc.

Treatment of Slipped Disc:

A patient today has a variety of treatment options for a prolapsing or already prolapsed Disc disease.

Non-surgical treatment options include the following:

  • Physiotherapy (Physical Therapy)
  • Other chiropractic treatments include chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT).
  • Manipulation by an osteopath
  • Anti-inflammatory medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or epidural spinal injections, can often provide adequate relief from the troubling symptoms.

If your symptoms do not improve after six weeks or if your slipped disc is interfering with your muscle function, your doctor may recommend surgery. Your surgeon may choose to remove only the damaged or protruding portion of the disc rather than the entire disc. This is known as a microdiskectomy.

In more severe cases, your doctor may remove the disc and fuse your vertebrae together, or replace it with an artificial disc. This procedure, in conjunction with a laminectomy and spinal fusion, strengthens your spinal column.

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