Slipped Disc

One of the most common injuries to the spine is slipped or a herniated disk. This condition may be extremely painful and may damage surrounding muscle and nerve systems.

A disk is a small mass of elastic, gristle-like tissue located between each vertebra in the spinal column. These disks act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. When some of the disk material bulges and pops out of place into the spinal canal, this is known as a ruptured or herniated disk. Extreme, sudden pain is usually the first symptom. Since most herniations involve the bottom 2 disks of the spinal column, the pain usually begins in the lower back. The bulging disk in this location exerts pressure on the sciatic nerve and sharp pain may follow that nerve all the way down the leg and into the foot. Pressure on this nerve may eventually cause numbness ands a pins-and –needles sensation. A number of tests are used to make a precise diagnosis and to pinpoint the exact site of the herniations, such as XRAYS, myelography, computer tomography and MRI.