Have you been experiencing pain in your lower back?
Is the pain causing numbness in your shoulders?
Are you experiencing a problem bending or straightening your back?
If you have experienced these symptoms, you might be suffering from a herniated disc (slipped disc).
What is a Herniated Disc?
The spinal cord has several small bones from top to bottom. The discs around these bones act as a cushion and protect these bones from shocks of daily movements like walking and running.
When this cushion slips out of the casing, the spinal cord becomes less resistant to shocks. Thus, causing back and shoulder pains.
In some cases, the pain goes away after some time. However, if the pain continues, it is better to consult a spine surgery specialist.
What are the Causes of Herniated Disc
Herniated/Slipped disc is a common back problem in older people. Ageing results in wear and tear of the spinal disks due to excessive movements.
The discs become less flexible and more prone to rupturing during twisting, turning, or lifting weights.
Besides age, accidents or spine injuries can result in a herniated disc. A high amount of pressure causes the inner disc to slip out because of the less space in the spinal canal.
What are the symptoms of Herniated Disc?
The slipped disc may push a nerve and exert pressure, which can cause severe pain and inflammation.
The escape of the spinal disc also releases a chemical that irritates the nerves and increases inflammation.
Although not everyone experiences pain, some of the common symptoms of a herniated disc are:
Numbness
If the slipped disc pushes on a nerve, the excessive pain causes numbness in all the areas with that nerve.
The tingling sensation travels through the nerve and spreads to the arms and legs. However, you might only experience numbness only on one side of the body.
Muscle Weakness
The muscles attached to the said nerve weaken because of the inability to move the muscles flexibly.
The pain also extends to the muscles due to certain movements at night. Weakened muscles also affect the balance of the body and you can easily stumble.
Pain in Other Body Parts
Herniated discs usually occur in the lower back. The pain travels through the lower back to the hip joints, thighs, and calf. You might also experience sore muscles.
If the herniated disc is on the top of the spinal cord, you might experience pain in the neck region, shoulders, and arms. People who suffer from herniated discs describe the pain as sharp and unyielding.
What should you do?
The foremost step is to consult the best orthopaedic doctor in town. If you experience slight bearable pain then try taking muscle pain medicines.
However, if the pain continues to travel through your arms and legs, it is better to visit the doctor without any delay.
Orthoderma Clinic has the best orthopaedic doctor for spine surgery in Ludhiana. We have many happy clients who move freely without any pain in their bodies.
Dr. Shekhar Singal is the finest spine surgeon in Ludhiana, offering both surgical and non-surgical treatments for herniated discs.