Small, spongy discs cushion the bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. But when a disc is damaged, it may bulge or break open. This is called a herniated disc. It may also be called a slipped or ruptured disc.
A herniated disc can occur in any part of your spine. But most herniated discs affect the lower back (lumbar herniated disc). Some happen in the neck (cervical herniated disc). Less often, they can be in the upper mid-back (thoracic herniated disc).
Many people with herniated discs have no symptoms. Pain happens when the disc irritates the membrane on the outside of the spinal cord or spinal nerves.
Symptoms may include:
Weakness in both legs and the loss of bladder or bowel control are symptoms of a specific and severe type of nerve root compression called cauda equina syndrome. This is a rare but serious problem that requires emergency surgery.
Wear and tear, also called disc degeneration, is the usual cause of a herniated disc. The outer layer of the discs (annulu ) can form tiny tears or cracks. The thick gel inside the disc may be forced out through those cracks.
A herniated disc can happen when you injure your back. Injury can occur from:
Diagnosis of herniated disc is made by reviewing medical history, a physical exam, and possibly an MRI or CT scan.
Learn more about herniated disc by watching an educational video.
Our interventional pain physician, Dr. Anil K. Sharma, is a leading practitioner of state-of-the-art techniques specializing in the use of minimally-invasive techniques to treat spinal disorders. He has performed over 70,000 spinal procedures in his 27+ years of clinical practice.
Our specialists treat all major painful conditions from refractory headaches to spine and extremity pain. Learn more about just some of the conditions we treat and treatments we offer by viewing educational videos provided by our office.
Our office is centrally located for patients in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Our state-of-the-art procedure room includes the newest C-arm and Ultrasound machines for office-based procedures. We also have accredited surgical centers in Shrewsbury, Toms River, and Neptune.