Suffering from a slipped disc can be extremely painful. And if you’ve never experienced one before, but think you might have one, now diagnosing it can be challenging.
If you think you may have a slipped disc, we recommend visiting a doctor for a professional diagnosis. But if you’re just curious about slipped discs, keep reading.
In this blog post we’ll use our professional experience to help answer a common question – “what is a slipped disc?“.
Understanding Slipped Discs and Disc Protrusion
Spinal discs are tough, rubbery cushions between spinal bones. Spinal discs have a soft center (nucleus pulposus) surrounded by a tough outer ring (annulus fibrosus). A herniated disc is often called a ruptured disc or a slipped disc, because it literally cracks upon injury. When the outer ring cracks and the center spills out it is considered herniated.
A herniated disc causes symptoms when it physically pushes on structures that it is not supposed to be in contact with. It also acts as a chemical irritant to the surrounding tissues. Advanced imaging, such as MRI, is used to formally diagnose a slipped disc and disc herniation.
This condition most commonly affects the lower back or neck and can result from injury, aging, or repetitive strain. Despite the term “slipped,” the disc doesn’t actually move out of place but rather bulges or ruptures due to damage. Symptoms vary but may include radiating pain, tingling, or muscle weakness, and treatment ranges from rest and physical therapy to surgery in severe cases.
Speaking of symptoms, let’s get into the main slipped disc symptoms that our patients report when they visit our San Diego office.
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Slipped Disc Symptoms
The majority of slipped disc or spinal disc herniations occur in your low back, although they can also occur in your neck. Signs and symptoms vary depending on the spinal level, and whether or not there is nerve impingement. Although disc herniations can affect both sides of your body, they typically only affect one side of the body at a time.
The most common symptoms of a disc herniation are pain, numbness and weakness to an arm or a leg. Many patients are asymptomatic, while others experience 10 out of 10 pain.
Here are some common symptoms:
- Numbness or tingling: It is common for patients to state that they have local symptoms or symptoms that travel or radiate to body parts affected by that nerve.
- Arm or leg pain: Low back herniations affect the buttocks, thigh, leg or foot. While neck herniations can result in hand, arm or shoulder pain. Pain due to disc herniations are oftentimes worsened when a patient coughs or sneezes, and is described as sharp or burning pain.
- Muscle weakness: Some patients we see at Intouch Chiropractic in San Diego, CA report having a tough time with hand strength and lifting or holding items when they have a cervical disc herniation. Patients with low back herniations report leg weakness, feeling uneasy on their feet and even stumbling.
Please note that mild disc herniations can be asymptomatic for years, and most do not go away on their own.
“I’ve been a chiropractic patient for over 20 years, and I absolutely love the doctors and the amazing staff at Intouch Chiropractic! With gentle and painless adjustments, spinal decompression and laser therapy, I have gotten more relief than ever! I highly recommend this team, especially if you are new to chiropractic or trying to avoid surgery.” – Intouch Chiropractic Review by Amanda H.
Slipped Discs in Conclusion
Want to know how our doctors treat disc herniations and the treatment of degenerative disc disease without medications, back or neck surgery?
Want expert help? Call our office today at (619) 756-7510 or request an appointment here.
