Slipped Disc Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Slipped Disc: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Our spinal cord is made up of a series of bones that are stacked with each other. The discs
protect the bones from activities such as twisting, lifting and walking. You can experience
numbness when the slipped disc compresses the spinal nerves. Here are the symptoms, causes,
diagnosis, and treatment of the slipped disc pain.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms that will enable you to know if you have a slipped disc. You can
have the slippage from your spine to lower back. However, it is common in the lower back. The
symptoms include muscle weakness, tingling in the affected area, pain that gets worse at night,
numbness on one part of the body, and pain that extend to your arms or legs. The pain varies
from one person to the next. You should see your doctor if the pain causes numbness and you
are unable to control your muscles.
What causes a slipped disc?
The health problem occurs when the outer ring gets weak and thus leads to the inner portion
slipping out. There are some motions that cause the slippage. The disk can go out of place
when you are turning or twisting. When you lift a large object, it places a strain on your lower
back. If your job involves doing a lot of lifting, then you will increase your chances of getting
the condition. Overweight individuals are also at a risk of getting the health condition. If you are
overweight, then the disc must support your weight. The risk of the health condition also
increases with age. It is because the discs start becoming weak since the protective water is lost
as you age. Thus, the disk can slip out of place easily. The condition is common in men than
women.
Diagnosis
A physical exam has to be performed to determine if you have the condition. Through the
physical exam, the doctor will identify the source of your discomfort. The doctor checks your
nerve function and strength of your muscles. The doctor will also conduct the imaging tests to
identify the damaged areas. Some of the imaging scans that the doctor will use are x-rays, CT
scans, MRI scans and discograms. Using all these methods, the doctor will determine the main
cause of your problem.
Treatment
There are different kinds of methods used to treat the slipped disc pain; surgical and
consecutive. The treatment depends on the amount of discomfort that you are experiencing and
just how far the disk has gone out. You can use an exercise program to relieve the pain caused
by this health condition. Exercises that are helpful are those that strengthen the back and
muscles surrounding it. You should also avoid lifting heavy things. You can also relieve the
pain by taking over the counter medications. In case you take the over the counter medications
but there is no change, then your doctor will prescribe stronger medications. Some of the strong
medications that you can be given include narcotics, muscle relaxers, and nerve pain
medications. If the symptoms do not go away within six weeks, then you will have to go for
surgery.