Revealing Signs of a Herniated Disc
By Sara Butler
Your spinal discs help to cushion the spaces between the bones in your spine. Sometimes the tougher outer layer tears, which allows the softer inner layer to leak out and irritate the nearby nerves or pinch the nerve roots. This condition, called a herniated disc, is most common in the lower part of the back and results in pain in the lower back that can travel down one leg. Here are a few telltale signs you may have a herniated disc and how the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic can help.
Sign No. 1: Pain in the Lower Body
The pain in your back and legs can feel dull and throbbing, or it can feel sharp, radiating down the back of your leg -- a condition called sciatica. The herniated disc can also cause weakness or numbness in your leg, calf, or even foot.
This type of pain usually only impacts one side of the body, since the herniated disc is pressing or irritating the nerve root on a particular side. The pain can be worse with motion or may feel worse after you get up after sitting or laying down for long periods of time.
Sign No. 2: Pain Develops Quickly
The pain from a herniated disc usually hits quickly. There's not usually a single moment or traumatic event that you can trace the source of the pain back to even though the pain feels as if it comes on very suddenly.
The symptoms associated with a herniated disc can be very painful, which is why it's important to seek the help of a chiropractor for a definitive diagnosis if you suspect that is the cause of your pain and discomfort. The sooner it gets diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin. According to the American Chiropractic Association, almost 90 percent of people who seek chiropractic help for a herniated disc will find some relief from pain within six weeks.
Sign No. 3: You Have Risk Factors
There are certain risk factors that can predispose you to develop a herniated disc. They are:
- Age 35 to 50
- Being a woman, which means you are twice as likely to develop the condition than a man
- A physically demanding job
- Obesity
If you have any of these risk factors combined with pain in your back or legs, then talk to a chiropractor as soon as you can for an evaluation.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Spring, Tex.