A prolapsed disc diagnosis, like any medical diagnosis, can be scary at first. While it may be somewhat gratifying to finally be able to put a name to the uncomfortable symptoms you’ve been experiencing for weeks or months, it’s also intimidating to know that you truly have a physical condition that requires treatment. But before we discuss the idea of treatment, let’s focus on the initial stages of getting a diagnosis for your back or neck pain.

Whether you suspect that you have a prolapsed disc or you have no idea what has been causing the symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness in your back, neck, and/or extremities, it’s imperative that you get a proper diagnosis from a doctor. This is the only real way to be sure of what’s causing your discomfort and formulate an effective treatment plan. You can visit your primary care physician for a diagnosis, or you may choose to see an orthopedist, neurologist, or another doctor who specializes in spinal conditions. Regardless, your appointment will likely involve a physical examination, a review of your medical history, a review of your symptoms, and medical imaging like an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan.

Understanding Your Prolapsed Disc Diagnosis

If the above diagnostic methods confirm that you are suffering from a prolapsed disc, this means that one of the intervertebral discs in your spine has developed a tear or lesion in its tough outer wall (annulus fibrosus), and the disc’s inner fluid (nucleus pulposus) has begun to seep out. While many people have one or more prolapsed discs in their necks or backs, they may never even realize they have the condition if symptoms don’t develop. And, for many fortunate people, this is the case. For others, though, symptoms develop for one of two reasons:

– The nuclear fluid has irritated tiny nerve fibers in the disc’s wall and caused localized inflammation

– The fluid has seeped outside of the disc and compressed a spinal nerve root or the spinal cord itself.

If you were in enough pain to go to the doctor for your condition, you likely fall into the latter category of people.

Prolapsed disc causes will vary, but the leading cause is age-related degeneration. Over time, the intervertebral discs that separate adjacent vertebrae and act as shock absorbers up and down the spine begin to lose water, height, and elasticity. The annulus fibrosus may become weak enough that it can no longer contain the highly pressurized nucleus pulposus, in which case a tear or herniation may develop. Other factors that may lead to a prolapsed disc diagnosis – though are not necessarily independent of age-related degeneration – include traumatic injuries, obesity, excessive overexertion, prolonged periods of poor posture, smoking, arthritis, or pre-existing genetic conditions like scoliosis or Paget’s disease.

How Severe is Your Condition?

As with any medical condition, a prolapsed disc can occur in varying degrees of severity. Your doctor may or may not review these details with you right away, but as you meet with him or her to develop a treatment plan, be sure to ask about the location of the lesion, how deep it appears to be, and at exactly what level of the spine it appears.

A prolapsed disc diagnosis may mean that you have a:

– Rim lesion – Also called a peripheral or horizontal tear, these affect the outermost layer of the disc’s wall. They are usually caused by small bone spurs on a nearby vertebra, or a traumatic injury due to sports or an auto accident.

– Concentric tear – This type of tear is characterized by two or more layers of the disc’s outermost wall, called lamellae, splitting apart in a circumferential direction. It is believed these tears are caused by excessive twisting and turning motions, like those experienced when swinging a golf club.

– Radial tear – This is a horizontal tear that begins inside the disc, near the nucleus pulposus, and works its way through to the outermost layer of the disc. If the nucleus pulposus pushes against the fissure hard enough, it can break through the outer wall and leak into the spinal canal.

Can My Prolapsed Disc Diagnosis Be Reversed With Treatment?

There is a chance that your prolapsed disc could heal enough that the extruded material no longer presses on a spinal nerve or the spinal cord. However, the underlying causes of the disc herniation, especially in the case of age-related degeneration, will not just go away. Even if you sustained a prolapsed disc due to a sudden injury, that disc may be permanently weaker and more prone to future injury. The best course of action is to follow your prescribed treatment plan to a tee, and if you do find relief from your symptoms, continue to remain cognizant of your spine’s health throughout your life by eating properly, exercising, and maintaining a healthy posture and body weight.

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 after a prolapsed disc diagnosis as well as after the diagnosis of 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 prolapsed discs and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/bulging_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 after a prolapsed disc diagnosis as well as after the diagnosis of several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Prolapsed disc diagnosis