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  1. Also known as: slipped disc, spinal disc herniation
    A condition which results from rupture of the disc between the bones of the spine and the soft inner portion of the disc (nucleus) protrudes outside through the hard outer ring (annulus). This causes pain when a nerve is compressed.
    Condition Highlight
    Certain types can be dangerous or life threatening
    How common is condition?
    Common (More than 200,000 cases per year in US)
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatable by a medical professional
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Requires lab test or imaging
    Time taken for recovery
    Can last several months or years
    Condition Highlight
    Common for ages 35-50
    Condition Highlight
    More common in males
    Condition Highlight
    Family history may increase likelihood
    See more

    Causes

    Verified Expert

    • Herniated disc occur due to gradual wear and tear. The causes include:
    • Aging causes spinal cord to lose their water content, making them less flexible and more prone to a tear or rupture with strain or twist, for eg., lifting heavy objects
    • Trauma such as a blow or fall on the back
    • The risk factors include:
    • Over weight - excess weight puts stress on lower back disks
    • Physically demanding jobs such as pushing, lifting
    • Genetics - Family history may increase the risk

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    Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Contact your provider if experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.

    The symptoms depends on the area of the herniated disc and may include:

    • Pain in the back, arm, leg, and foot
    • Recurrent back muscle spasm
    • Numbness or tingling along thigh
    • Muscle weakness
    • Burning in the shoulders, neck or arm

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    Diagnosis

    Verified Expert
    One or more of these tests may be recommended by your medical provider.
    Diagnosis involves taking medical history, physical examination to check the back tenderness, and several other tests to check reflexes, muscle strength, waking ability, sensation to light touches, pinpricks and vibration.

    Common tests & procedures

    X-ray: Helps rule out other causes of back pain. Can also indicate degeneration of the spine.

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Confirms location of herniated disk, and can be used to observe the affected nerves.

    CT scan: A dye is injected into the spinal canal and a CT scan is carried out.

    Nerve conduction velocity (NCV): Measure conduction of electrical impulses on the nerve tissues through electromyograms and nerve conduction studies.

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  1. Pain from a bulging disc12345can result from nerve compression. Symptoms may include:
    • Pain and tingling on one side of the body
    • Shooting pains down the nerve pathway
    • Localized pain and irritation
    • Numbness or tingling in the shoulders, arms, or fingers
    • Reduced range of motion
    Learn more:
    The disc usually bulges toward one side of the canal (either right or left), which is why people with a bulging disc are likely to have pain and tingling on just one side of the body. A bulging disc in your neck may be relatively painless. Or it can cause severe pain in your neck, as well as your shoulders, chest, and arms.
    www.healthline.com/health/neck-pain/bulging-disks
    Pain from a bulging disc is typically the result of nerve compression. If a disc bulges out of its normal boundaries, it can narrow the nerve pathways in the spine and put pressure on the spinal cord or a nerve root. This may result in pain and other symptoms such as: Localized pain and irritation Shooting pains down the nerve pathway
    www.usaspinecare.com/back_problems/bulging_di…
    Bulging discs can be small and cause no to minimal symptoms or can be large (called a herniated disc). Large bulges can place pressure on the spinal cord or on the nerves that run off the spinal cord and into the arms and legs. A bulging disc usually improves with rest, ice, and taking pain medications.
    www.buoyhealth.com/learn/bulging-disc
    It is possible for a bulging disc to occur without any symptoms. In other cases, however, the disc presses on a nerve in the neck. This can cause: pain in the neck, shoulders, and back pain when moving numbness or tingling in the shoulders, arms, or fingers a reduced range of motion
    www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324762
    A bulging disc may have no pain at all because it has not reached a certain severity level, and this can make it difficult to identify the bulging disc symptoms before the condition becomes more severe. Most commonly, bulging discs create pressure points on nearby nerves which create a variety of sensations.
    drtonymork.com/back-pain/disc-herniation/bulging-…
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