The spine is made up of 26 bones called vertebrae. Between them are soft disks filled with a jelly-like substance, which cushion the vertebrae and keep them in place.
What happens
With age, the disks break down, or degenerate, and lose their cushioning, which can lead to pain when the back is under strain. A herniated disk is one that ruptures, letting its jelly-like centre leak out and irritate nearby nerves. That can cause sciatica or back pain.
Diagnosis and treatment
A doctor diagnoses a herniated disk with a physical exam and sometimes imaging tests. With treatment, most people recover. Treatments include:
- rest;
- pain and anti-inflammatory medicines;
- physical therapy;
- sometimes, surgery.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Herniated Disk," drawing on the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://medlineplus.gov/herniateddisk.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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