Herniated Disc Treatment

The vertebrae are a series of bones that are connected with each other, making up the spine. The lumbar disc, which consists of strong connecting tissue, holds one vertebra to another, serving as a cushion between each bone of the vertebrae. The lumbar disc has a tough external layer with a center like a gel, which typically loses fluid as one gets older, making the lumbar disc a poor cushion. Additionally, the center of the disc may also become herniated or, in other words, displaced. Lumbar herniated disc usually occurs to the two discs from the bottom of the lumbar spine.

Most people complain of leg pain, back pain, or even weakness on their lower extremities. Common diagnosis is a herniated disc or rupture of the spinal disc. Disc serves as cushions in between the vertebrae. When herniated disc occurs, the disc is pushed out from its normal position, and then protrudes through its outer covering. It would not have been such a problem if not for the spinal nerves that stay too close towards the intervertebral disc edge.

Herniated disc may appear at any part of your spine. But most of these instances occur in the lower area called the lumbar spine. Some cases also are referred to as cervical herniated disc where the damaged disc is found on the neck area, while it is rare to occur in the thoracic spine.

Most people treated with a herniated disc do not require a surgery for their conditions tend to improve after some time. 50% of herniated disc patients recovered after one month of diagnosis and treatments, and by ssix months, 96% have already recovered. Only 10% of people with herniated disc do not show any progress after six weeks of treatment and because of this, herniated disc surgery is considered. Herniated disc surgery is done to reduce the pain and for patients to have normal movements again and body functions.

Sciatica or leg pain due to a herniated or ruptured disc is typically caused by the disc’s soft, gel-like internal substance protruding into its outer covering called annulus fibrosus. As the disc bulges, it compresses on a nerve root along the sciatic nerve radiating pain that is felt from the lower portion of the back down to the legs.

The main objective of a cervical spine surgery is to relieve pain, restore proper nerve function and prevent irregular movements of the spine. It is basically performed by removing a portion of a bone or disc and then fusing the spine with a bone graft in the front or back of the vertebrae.