A herniated disc can be one of the most frustrating spine conditions you’ll ever experience. That’s because the symptoms, when they occur at all, can be so inconsistent. One day, you’ll wake up feeling fine. You’ll jump out of bed ready to face the world, apparently free of the nagging back or neck pain that was such a major problem in the past. On other mornings, though, you’ll wake up and hardly be able to move because the pain is so intense. If only there was a way to explain why the pain and other symptoms associated with a herniated disc are so unpredictable from one day to the next. In fact, there is an explanation. Read on to find out what that explanation is.

Anatomy of a Herniated Disc

The intervertebral discs are located between the stacked vertebrae within the spine. The job of the discs is to provide a pliant cushion for the vertebrae before, during, and after spinal movement. Without the discs, the bony vertebrae would grind together and the joints that connect them (facet joints) would be subjected to a great deal more stress and strain than they already are.

As the body ages, the discs begin to wear down. The internal portion, a gel-like protein and water compound known as the nucleus pulposus, begins to lose water content. The external portion, a layered cartilaginous wall known as the annulus fibrosus, also dehydrates and weakens, and can begin to buckle, warp, or bulge out of its normal boundary. Eventually, a fissure or tear can form in the outer wall, allowing a portion of the nucleus material to leak into the spinal canal.

Luck of the Draw?

Interestingly, at this point in the development of a herniated disc, the condition might go unnoticed. That’s because in many cases, the only symptoms are often a mild ache from the disc tear itself, and occasional stiffness. Even though the spinal nerve roots, spinal cord, and other anatomical components of the spine are very close together, the extruded nucleus material could avoid making contact with delicate neural structures altogether. Eventually, the extruded material is absorbed by the body and the deteriorating disc stabilizes on its own. Or, it touches the spinal cord or a nearby nerve root, in which case a set of symptoms known as radiculopathy can arise: radiating pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness in the extremities.

It almost seems like luck of the draw when extruded nucleus material avoids making contact with the spinal cord or a nerve root. In fact, nerve impingement might sometimes occur only when certain movements take place, or when you are standing in a certain position or lying down. That’s what makes a herniated disc so frustrating – its unpredictability and its inconsistency.

Symptom Management

If a herniated disc becomes symptomatic, the pain and other symptoms usually can be managed using a regimen of nonsurgical, conservative treatment methods. These may include a combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), exercise, hot-cold applications, corticosteroid injections, and more. Surgery for a herniated disc typically becomes an option only if conservative treatment fails to provide relief after several weeks or months. Because such surgery carries risks and potential side effects that can have a profound effect on your long-term quality of life, it is important to make absolutely certain that all conservative methods of treatment have been exhausted before consenting to surgery of any kind. Many patients seek a second – or even a third – medical opinion before moving forward with spine surgery to alleviate the symptoms of a herniated disc. Talk to your doctor about your options and research the possibility of an endoscopic, outpatient spinal procedure.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of herniated disc symptoms and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for herniated discs and several other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/herniated_disc/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of herniated disc symptoms and several other spinal conditions.

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Keywords: herniated disc