How Can You Treat a Herniated Spinal Disc?

A herniated spinal disc is where the vertebral disc bulges through a gap in the spinal column. It can cause compression of the nerve root leading to tingling and numbness of the region.

There are various treatments for a herniated spinal disc, which we will discuss further.

Anatomy of the spinal disc:

The spinal disc is located between the individual vertebrae of the spine. It is a round, soft cushion of elastic tissue that tends to harden as we age. It is more prone to trauma as elasticity is lost. This can cause the disc to protrude, or become herniated through the spaces in the vertebral column. A herniated spinal disc can compress, or pinch the nerves and the spinal column and cause pain.

What causes it?

A herniated spinal disc can have a rapid onset due to sudden trauma. In fact, you can just wake up with it. Herniation can also happen gradually, due to what is known as repetitive stress syndrome. Repetitive stress can occur as a result of repeating the same movements that exert pressure on the spine, such as moving furniture for a living.

What are the symptoms?

Herniated disc symptoms can include:

Numbness and tingling sensations in the extremities and back, shooting pains, loss of bladder and bowel control and reduced muscular strength.

These symptoms occur as a result of the disc pressing on the nerve, causing irritation and inflammation. A compressed nerve is unable to effectively transmit electrical impulses to the brain, and can result in the tingling and numbness that is directly related to the pressure the disc is exerting on the nerve.

If the injury occurs high up on the cervical neck area, there can be some difficulties breathing and medical assistance should be sought out immediately.

Diagnosis of a herniated disc is most often made by a thorough physical exam, as well as testing sensation and reflexes. Muscle strength is also examined, as loss of muscle strength is a symptom of a herniated spinal disc. Other testing may include x-rays, CT scan, and MRI.

Once determination has been made that you have a disc herniation, treatment will be prescribed to alleviate the pain and correct the disc's position.

Treatment for this disorder may include:

Non Steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, pain relievers and hot and cold packs.

Surgical intervention may be considered if the traditional treatments do not bring relief. This may involve the partial or complete removal of the offending disc. This surgical treatment is called a discectomy, and is used to remove a disc from the spinal canal.

If you feel your symptoms are consistent with those of a herniated disc, get in touch with your doctor for an official diagnosis.


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Jared Wright is the marketing manager of Clivir.com - the free learning community site. You can learn more about back pain such as lower back pain remedies and lower back pain exercises by clicking the links.