Know a Procedure: Herniated Disc

Calendar June 3, 2015
Know a Procedure: Herniated Disc

back painThis week’s Know a Procedure isn’t so much a surgery as it is a common condition. Often, when patients have a back injury that leads to a herniated, or “slipped,” disc, surgery is a last resort. Some info on herniated discs from The Mayo Clinic:

A herniated disk refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack up to make your spine.

A spinal disk is a little like a jelly donut, with a softer center encased within a tougher exterior. Sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk, a herniated disk occurs when some of the softer “jelly” pushes out through a crack in the tougher exterior.

A herniated disk can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. On the other hand, many people experience no symptoms from a herniated disk. Most people who have a herniated disk don’t need surgery to correct the problem.

To read more about herniated discs and treatment from The Mayo Clinic CLICK HERE.

If you are experiencing back pain, schedule an appointment with an Azalea spine specialist today.

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