Herniated Disk (Disk Prolapse) – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

A disk prolapse, also known as a herniated disk, occurs when one of the soft, rubber-like cushions between the bones of the spine is affected. A herniated disk may occur in any part of the spine and has the potential to put pressure on a nearby nerve. The symptoms of a herniated disk such as pain, numbness, or weakness vary based on its location in the spine.

Receiving an MRI report showing a disk prolapse can make anyone feel anxious, fearing they may never fully recover. Nothing can be further from the truth. Back pain is a common issue, with most cases caused by simple muscle strains or mechanical problems due to poor posture and weak core muscles.

These are self-limiting, but they have a propensity to recur due to the underlying cause, which is a lack of exercise and core strength.

The problem arises when these patients are subjected to an MRI scan and come back with a detailed report on the status of their disk, and poorly informed internet articles. To clarify, not all back pains are solely due to a disk prolapse. Most back pains are not caused by disk prolapse.

A simple examination, followed by medication and physiotherapy, will relieve the pain in more than 90% of cases. This, however, must be followed up by a good rehabilitation and strengthening protocol.

Causes

• Jobs involving lots of lifting and sitting (especially driving)
• Weight-bearing sports (weightlifting)
• Smoking
• Being obese
• Age factors (a disk is more likely to develop a weakness as we become older)

Symptoms

Prolapsed discs are most commonly found in the lower back, but they can also develop in the neck. The common symptoms include

• Arm and leg aches

If a person has a prolapsed disk in the lower back, they may also experience pain in the buttocks, thigh, calf, and foot. If the prolapsed disk is in the neck, a person will feel the most pain in the shoulder and arm.

• Numbness
• Weakness

Risk Factors

• Being overweight increases pressure on the spine.
• Physically demanding jobs involving lifting, bending, or twisting.
• Family history of disk problems.
• Smoking reduces oxygen supply to spinal disks.
• Long hours of driving with constant vibration.
• A sedentary lifestyle weakens spinal support.

Treatment

Treatments for a prolapsed disk range from conservative to surgical. It depends on the level of discomfort that a person is experiencing and how far the disk has slipped out of place.

Rest can relieve swelling and give the back time to heal. If your back hurts, avoid exercises and other activities that require bending or lifting.

• Exercise
  • Stretching exercises to keep your muscles flexible
  • Cardio exercises like walking or cycling boost heart health.
  • Massage
  • Heat and Ice therapy

General exercise is very important for everybody, and especially if a person has a prolapsed disc. It helps reduce pain by strengthening the spine-supporting muscles. While it’s unclear if specific spinal exercises are superior to general fitness, a physiotherapist can guide you on suitable exercises. Exercise can relieve prolapsed disc pain and may lower the risk of recurrence.

• Medications
  • Anti-inflammatory painkillers
  • Opioid medicines
  • A medicine for Neuropathic Pain
  • Microscopic Spine Surgery

Before you condemn yourself to a life of misery because of a diagnosis of disk prolapse, visit a spine surgeon. Get the right treatment and be back on your feet, doing the things you love, as soon as possible.

Dr. Rela Hospital is one of the multispecialty hospitals in Chennai, fully equipped with high-end technology to enhance safety and accuracy in complex spine surgeries. It is driven by expert spine surgeons and a fully trained team with more than 10 years of experience in dealing with complex spinal deformity correction, minimally invasive fusion and deformity surgeries for accelerated recovery, microscopic disk surgeries, motion-preserving disk replacement surgeries, and complex fracture reconstructions.

Injections for Herniated Disk

• Epidural Steroid Injection
• Nerve Root Injection
• Facet Joint Injection
• Medial Branch Block
• Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injection
• Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial
• Surgical consultation, evaluation, and follow-up

Prevention

While it may not always be possible to completely prevent a herniated disk, certain lifestyle habits and practices can significantly lower the risk:

• Exercise regularly: Strengthen the muscles of your back and abdomen, as these core muscles provide better support and stability for the spine.
• Practice proper posture: Maintain good alignment whether you are sitting, standing, walking, or even sleeping. Proper posture reduces strain on the spinal column and disks.
• Lift objects safely: Bend at the knees instead of the waist, keep your back straight, and rely on the strength of your legs to handle the weight.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Excess body weight increases pressure on the spine, particularly in the lower back, making disk problems more likely.
• Stretch often: If you sit for long periods, take regular stretching breaks to ease pressure on the spine.
• Choose supportive footwear: Avoid high heels, as they disrupt spinal alignment and increase strain.
• Avoid smoking: Smoking reduces oxygen supply to the spinal disks, making them weaker and more prone to rupture.

Comprehensive Conditions We Treat at Dr. Rela Hospital

• Structural problems
• Scoliosis
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disk disease
• Spondylolysis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Disk herniation
• Myelopathy
• Bone fractures
• Bone infection
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Pinched nerves
• Bone spurs
• Radiculopathy
• Cysts and tumours, both cancerous and benign
• Conditions caused by traumatic injury

Don’t let a diagnosis of disk prolapse define your life. With the right treatment and care, recovery is not only possible but expected.