Lumbar Disc Extrusion – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments for Relief

A herniated disc in the back is one of the more common problems that can occur in the back, but can also be one of the more stubborn to treat. This article will discuss what a back bulging disc is, how it develops, the most common symptoms related to it, as well as the therapies available.

Before we talk about the specifics of this problem, though, we first need to discuss what a normal spinal disc is in order for the rest of the information to make sense.

The spinal discs are cushions that separate each set of vertebrae of the back. They serve a very important role, because not only do they act as shock absorbers with movement, they also provide space between the bones which allows more room for the nerves to leave the back.

Each disc is composed of a strong outer covering called the annulus, and a soft jelly center called the nucleus. In the case of a lumbar disc extrusion, the annulus of the disc tears and the jelly begins to shift from the center of the disc and into the damaged area of the disc.

This creates a bulging in the wall of the disc, which is where this problem gets its most common name – a bulging disc. What’s interesting about the spinal discs is that they are designed to not feel pain sensations.

This may sound odd at first, because if you are living with this problem, you know how painful it can be. This fact, though, makes sense when you consider the function of each disc – if they are absorbing shock, you wouldn’t want to feel them because you would be in pain with every movement you make.

So, where does the pain actually come from? Well, if you take a closer look at the back, what you will see is that the spinal nerves often leave the spine where the disc is most likely to bulge. This applies pressure to these nerves, which is where all the pain comes from.

The cause of a lumbar disc displacement is typically an injury of some sort. Some examples may be a car accident, lifting something heavy, or even a slip and fall. This doesn’t have to be the case, though. Genetics also plays a role, so if you have a family member who suffers with this problem, you will also be more likely to develop a back bulging disc.

This problem can also develop due to deterioration that can occur in the back when an individual overuses their back. For example, if you have a job that involves a lot of bending, lifting, and twisting from the waist, you can have gradual wear-and-tear on the discs in your lower back and eventually develop this problem.

The symptoms that can develop due to a herniated disc in the back can vary depending on which nerves are being affected. They can include lower back pain, pain radiating into the hip, leg, or foot, weakness in the lower body, and even a loss of control of the bowel and bladder.

The nerves of the lower back control the legs and most of the organs in the abdominal area, which is why symptoms will develop in these areas when you develop a lumbar disc extrusion.

As far as treatment is concerned, most doctors will start by recommending medications. Usually this will include a pain-reliever as well as a muscle relaxer. If this fails to provide relief, most doctors will then recommend physical therapy as well as injections (usually cortisone or epidurals).

The final recommendation from most physicians would be surgery, but this is always recommended as a last resort because the success rate is very low.

Most of these therapies will result in temporary relief, but unfortunately, they often do not lead to long-term results. This is because these therapies are designed primarily to relieve the nerve pain – they do not correct the cause of the problem which is the bulging disc itself.

In order for an individual to heal a herniated disc in the back completely, it requires a focus, not only on alleviating the pain from the aggravated nerve, but also on healing the damaged disc so the pain doesn’t return.

So, what types of therapies are available for this to occur? After working with thousands of individuals suffering with this problem, I’ve actually come to the conclusion that it is a specific combination of therapies that will provide the best results.

If you would like to learn more about the most successful treatments available for herniated disc in the back problems, as well as the combination of treatments that I have found to be the most successful, you can click here (ruptured lumbar disc) for the full details.