Prolapsed discs (slipped disc) is a general term for disc herniation. It can occur anywhere along the spine although occurrence is much lower in the middle back. When a disc “slipped” it can produce great amount of pain around and distant to the area of injury. Muscle weaknesses and other neurological signs and symptoms may accompany too. Having said so, you can also have a slipped disc without knowing about it because you may not experience any signs and symptoms. However, the risk for further deterioration still exist even when you do not have any accompanying signs and symptoms. In this article, we would discuss the common associated signs and symptoms, causes and risk factors for a disc injury.
Common Signs and Symptoms associated with slipped disc:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness
For example, an individual with a slipped disc in the lower back can have low back and leg pain, numbness and tingling to the lower limbs, and muscle weakness. Impingement of the spinal nerve or even spinal cord may happen, depending on severity of the protrusion and location of injury.
Causes:
The causes of slipped disc are most often due to a few factors in combination. Due to the combination of all these factors, most people can’t pinpint to the exact cause of their slipped disc. Also, even though slipped disc problem normally occurs when one is twisting their spine in a bending position, not everyone goes through the same mechanism of injury in which pain and damage will happen right away.
Our intervertebral disc (IVD) has high water content in it. Due to gravitational force, immobility, sedentary living and other unhealthy lifestyle factors like smoking, the disc gets dehydrated faster. Another word, the discs degenerate prematurely and increases the likelihood to a slipped disc. The reduction in fluid also means that the discs are less supple and therefore, more liable to split and rupture. Therefore, when the disc loses its water content and more susceptible to tearing and rupturing, even a minor twist/strain or sneeze may cause it to “slipped”.
Risk Factors:
While the causes of slipped disc are difficult to be exact, the risk factors involved are well documented. The 3 main risk factors are spinal misalignment, weight, and occupational stresses.
Spinal Misalignment – The spine should have 3 distinctive curves throughout when it is viewed from the side. From the front, the base of the skull and the top of the tail bone should form a straight line. When a spine is well balanced with its proper alignment, the shock absorption ability of the spine is good. Therefore, the discs are less susceptible to injury like slipped discs.
Weight – Excess body weight causes extra stress on the discs, especially in the lower back. The extra weight may forces the spine to alter its alignment slightly in order to bear the weight. Together with altered spinal alignment, the weight put on additional loads that stresses the discs.
Occupational Stresses – People with physically demanding jobs have a greater risk of disc injury. Repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting also may increase the risk of a herniated discs. Spinal alignment and proper techniques are extremely important to reduce the likelihood of disc injury.
In Conclusion, disc injury can be prevented by reducing the risk factors involved. Keeping the spine mobile and flexible, get well hydrated, and receive proper nutrition to the disc are also important in reducing the chances to injure the discs. A regular check-ups by a Chiropractor to advice your unique needs to prevent your spine from getting injured from a slipped disc is also an important tips to keep your disc strong and healthy.
Tags slipped discs
