|
|
Ruptured or Slipped Disk
Ruptured (herniated) or slipped disks are a major source of lower back pain. Though they are sometimes the result of an injury or trauma, ruptured disks are more commonly caused by age-related degeneration of the disks between the vertebrae of the spine. The disks - composed mostly of water - begin to grow thinner and more brittle with age. A disk can actually swell or bulge out without causing pain or losing fluid. However, its tough outer covering becomes vulnerable to tears, and may allow the center of the disk to protrude through one of those tears, resulting in the rupture of the disk. The pressing on the sciatic nerve by a herniated disk in the lower back can cause a sharp, shooting pain down the buttock or back of the leg, defined as sciatica.
Ask anyone who has experienced it and you will learn that a ruptured disk can be very debilitating. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to seek a careful diagnosis and discuss with your health care professional the wide range of treatment strategies, many non-surgical, available for dealing with this condition.
Avoiding strenuous activity is commonly recommended, as is the safe application of heat, the strategic use of orthopedic pillows, the use of shoulder bags and backpacks that redistribute weight more evenly and offset pressure on the neck and spine, and the use of lumbar supports for more comfortable seating while working or driving.
|
