{"id":3825,"date":"2019-02-07T06:23:58","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T06:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=3825"},"modified":"2022-02-07T07:55:59","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T07:55:59","slug":"14-causes-of-herniated-discs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-causes-of-herniated-discs\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Causes of Herniated Discs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A herniated disc, also known as a slipped disc, or a ruptured disc, is a condition caused by movement or damage to the intervertebral discs. These discs sit between the individual bones in the spinal column, and help to lubricate their movement, prevent friction, and also create a pocket of space for nerves and blood vessels to travel through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this disc slips or gets ruptured, it can then cause the spine to sit awkwardly, while also placing painful pressure on the nerves. It can be useful to think of the spine as a kind of junction through which countless important nerves travel. The job of these nerves is to carry signals to and from the brain, limbs, and torso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you go to kick something, the action begins in your brain (in the motor cortex to be precise) and then travels down the nerves through the spine to the leg. If you then strike something painfully with the foot, this will excite nociceptors in your feet (the pain receptors), and a nerve impulse will travel back the other way up to your brain to register the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a nerve gets trapped, all these processes get interfered with, and the patient is likely to experience significant pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what causes this issue in the first place? Read on to learn 8 of the most common causes of herniated discs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the simplest ways that a disc can become herniated is as a result of direct trauma <\/a>or impact. If you should be struck in the spine, then this can both irritate the nerve directly, and also cause unusual movement in the spine that allows the disc to move as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many things that can cause an impact on the spine. This can be the result of an attack or a fight, it can happen if someone should fall over, or it can happen during sports \u2013 especially contact sports such as football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain in the spine may go away when swelling subsides, or it might be more serious if the impact caused a fracture or similar. For these reasons, it\u2019s important that you be seen by a physician as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Whiplash<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nothing actually has to hit you in the back in order for that area to be injured. A common cause of back injury that doesn\u2019t involve any kind of direct trauma is whiplash<\/a>. If you are in a car accident or similar, then a vehicle coming to a sudden stop can cause your entire body to get shaken. This then causes a shockwave to travel down the spine, moving each vertebra and rupturing\/moving\/irritating the nerves of the disc located between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whiplash can also cause a number of other injuries to the spine and even to the neck and brain. For these reasons, it\u2019s always important to have any back pain checked by a physician or a physiotherapist -even if the accident appears to be very minor and you don\u2019t feel much pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Incorrect Movement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to \u2018put your back out is to bend over to pick something up, only to move slightly incorrectly. This can then cause sudden shooting pain in the spine, as the vertebrae move and you end up trapping or damaging the nerves<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of scenarios where this can happen. One is when moving house, which in many ways creates a perfect storm for this kind of injury (more on that in a moment). Another is lifting weights at the gym, which involves using very heavy loads and thus greatly increases the risk of injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A common mistake during any kind of lifting is bending at the spine. When picking up a heavy object, it is important to bend the legs and to keep the back entirely straight. This means you squat down to the ground, get a hold of whatever you want to lift, then push through the heels. Try to imagine that there is a meter stick down your back and that you\u2019re trying to keep it perfectly straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Dehydration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration <\/a>is a more serious condition than many people realize and can cause a lot more problems than you might expect. For instance, if you are very dehydrated, then you might find that you experience serious headaches as your brain actually shrinks <\/em>and pulls itself away from the inside of your skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But did you know that this can also <\/em>increase the likelihood of herniated discs? A moist intervertebral disc is lubricated and capable of squashing and changing shape. When this dries out, it becomes brittle and significantly more likely to tear or rupture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep drinking lots of water then, and especially during exercise during which time you might be more likely to move awkwardly and <\/em>be highly dehydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Tiredness and Stress<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are very tired or very stressed, then you will be at a greater risk of a significant range of different issues \u2013 and this includes back problems such as herniated discs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for this is that when you are stressed, your body redirects all energy<\/a>, blood, and other resources to your muscles and brain \u2013 to help you cope during the stressful period. That, in turn, leaves less remaining for the immune system, which makes it more difficult for you to heal and to recover from injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, all the small damage you cause to your spine on a daily basis builds up to a more significant degree, and your likelihood of tipping over the edge into a full-blown ruptured disc increases significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Poor Posture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might think that your ruptured disc is caused by an awkward movement or a bad lift at the gym. In fact, though, it is more than likely the result of years and years of abuse. The actual movement that caused the injury is just the catalyst \u2013 while the underlying damage was there all along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common ways to cause a vulnerability like this is to adopt a poor posture<\/a>. If you walk hunching over, or if you sit awkwardly at work for eight hours a day, then you will potentially be wearing down your vertebrae and irritating your discs on a daily basis. This eventually leaves you open to an injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Susceptibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people will have bad posture, be constantly stressed, and use all the wrong techniques in the gym\u2026 and yet they\u2019ll still not experience any pain<\/a>. Others will make one bad move and find their back gives out. So, what is the difference?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is that some people have an underlying susceptibility to back pain and other issues. This might be caused by osteoporosis, arthritis, or an unusual bone structure. Whatever the case, some people are simply more likely than others to experience back pain, and some people, therefore, need to be much more careful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a good possibility that if there is a history of serious back pain in your family, then you may be susceptible. That said, everyone should do their very best to be careful and should ensure they move correctly and build supporting muscles to help give their back the best possible chance of holding out. Don\u2019t take unnecessary risks: it is simply not worth it \u2013 it could end up creating <\/em>a vulnerability that affects you for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, it is possible that a herniated disc could be caused by benign or malign growth. A tumor<\/a>, a lump, or even uncontrolled bone growth can place pressure on the discs and can push vertebrae out of their correct alignment. Thus, if you find you consistently experience herniated discs, or if the pain comes on slowly, you should again get yourself seen by a physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, any unexplained back pain should be checked as it can point to a range of different problems \u2013 and any of them could be a cause for concern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, a herniated disc will be self-limiting and will improve over time. All you can do then is get yourself checked and then hope for the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Spinal Wear and Tear<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A herniated disc or tear can occur for a variety of reasons. One of the most common causes of the condition occurs due to old age. We can’t get away from aging, and eventually, everyone succumbs to this natural process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spinal column, discs, and vertebrae experience a slow degradation of the cartilage <\/a>and bone during our life. When the discs and vertebrae experience severe wear and tear, they lose structural integrity, exposing the patient to a higher risk of developing a herniated or torn disc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spine carries our weight over our lifetime, and the continual pressure on the discs and joints wears them away. Therefore, it’s more common for seniors to develop herniations and tears, especially when lifting something heavy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weakening of the annulus fibrous, which is the rugged outer layer of the disc, may weaken, creating pressure on the nucleus pulpous, pushing it through, creating the herniation or bulged disc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Obesity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are obese or severely overweight experience many health problems. Diabetes and high blood pressure are two concerning issues, but these individuals are also at a higher risk of spinal disc herniation and tears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a person to be obese, they must have a body mass index (BMI) reading of 30 or greater. These individuals carry around a significant amount of additional bodyweight, placing pressure on the spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the additional bodyweight, the spinal column starts to experience degeneration due to the added wear and tear of the discs and joints. If the person doesn’t lose weight, they may find they develop a herniated or torn disc through doing simple activities, such as getting out of the car or rising from the couch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obese individuals also have a harder time recovering from the effects of the injury<\/a>. They often require surgery to fix the situation, depending on the extent of the problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Aging<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, the aging process happens to everyone, and we should do our best to take care of ourselves as we get older. Keeping your body weight in a healthy range and supplementing with Vitamin D3, K2, and calcium can go a long way to slowing down the degradation of the spinal column associated with the aging process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as we age, we encounter many age-related dysfunctions of the body. Arthritis, spinal stenosis, spondylosis, and osteoporosis <\/a>are age-related problems associated with the spine. They cause the unnatural wearing of the discs and vertebrae, resulting in the ideal conditions for herniation and tearing of the discs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These individuals are at high risk for developing a herniation or tear, and they have a harder time recovering from the injury. People with degeneration of the spinal column must be very careful in handling themselves as they get older. Something as simple as bending down to pick something off the floor may result in a herniation or tear of the discs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. The Stages of a Herniated Disc<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A herniation of the discs goes through distinct stages during the injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disc Degeneration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stage of disc degeneration involves weakening the nucleus pulposus due to hormonal changes in the body associated with aging. A reduction in hormones like testosterone and estrogen leaves the patient at a higher risk of developing the injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prolapse<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this stage, the shape and position of the disc start to change. The patient experiences the formation of a protrusion or bulge, which starts to crowd the spinal cord<\/a> or nerves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extrusion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this stage, the nucleus pulposus protrudes through the wall of the annulus fibrosus. However, it remains contained within the disc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sequestration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the final stage, the nucleus pulposus bursts through the annulus fibrosus and may move to the outside of the disc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice a dull pain in your back, consult with your doctor. The physician will assess the area of the spine where you experience pain. After the assessment, they may offer treatment or send you to see a specialist for evaluation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The patient will visit their doctor to diagnose the herniation or tear to the disc. However, by the time the pain symptoms present, the patient is usually aware that they have a slipped or torn disc. It’s a matter of visiting the doctor for clarity on the situation and treatment of the disorder<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The doctor will do a brief physical examination of the spine., If they feel that the patient is dealing with a herniated disc, they will send them for an MRI, CT scan, or x-ray to determine the phase of the condition and the extent of the injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other processes used in assessing the injury include a myelogram involving the injection of colored dyes into the spine. The doctor will track the progression of the dye around the spine, looking for signs of a herniation or tear. The dye reveals narrowing of the spinal canal, otherwise known as “spinal stenosis,” and the area affected by the herniation or tear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Treatment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the doctor discovers a herniation or tears in the disc, they arrange treatment with muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications. The patient will need to avoid any high-risk activities that may cause further damage to the area. The doctor may recommend bed rest for the first week to allow the body to start the healing process and reduce inflammation <\/a>around the affected joint in the spine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the inflammation calms, the patient will need physiotherapy to improve their mobility and range of motion of the vertebrae and discs in the spine. Exercise loosens the muscles and joints in the spine, improving circulation while speeding up the healing process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The doctor may also issue spinal injections, known as “nerve or epidural block.” The doctor administers these spinal injections directly into the affected disc, reducing symptoms of pain and discomfort in the patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, the doctor may have to arrange surgery for the patient. Herniations can disrupt the nerve signaling to the bowels and bladder, resulting in incontinence symptoms in the patient and the need for surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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