Do I have a Disc Herniation?

Have you asked yourself this before?

Although a short blog post can’t diagnose a disc herniation, my goal is to give you some information that’ll help determine whether you need to consult your healthcare provider.

Before we get into symptoms, here’s some food for thought:

MRI scans of the low back were taken of 98 people with no history of low back pain. Over half (52%) had a disc bulge they were unaware of, and over a quarter (27%) had a full disc herniation and were completely unaware of it! Furthermore, 38% of the people had abnormalities at more than one area!
Study link: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8208267)

This study illustrates that a disc bulge or disc herniation may not be the sole cause of pain, but more likely the inflammation that comes along with it.

Having said that, here are some common symptoms of a disc herniation (this list is not all-inclusive):

-Sudden sharp pain after a certain movement (most commonly a bending and twisting motion)

-Pain/numbness/tingling/burning down back of leg, past the knee and into heel/foot (see below)

-Relieved with leaning to one side, worsened with leaning to the other side

-Increased pain with coughing, bowel movements, sneezing, straining

-Pain is worse in the morning, eases up as you get moving

These symptoms don’t always mean a disc has herniated, but when several of them appear, the likelihood of disc involvement goes up. Radiating pain or “sciatica” due to a disc herniation tends to radiate below the knee, whereas sacroiliac disorders, facet conditions, and other low back issues tend NOT to radiate below the knee.

If any of these symptoms appear, seek care immediately as they indicate a more serious condition:

-Loss of bowel/bladder function

-Numbness in the groin/inner thighs/genitals

-Inability to walk or stand due to progressive muscle weakness

It’s estimated that 95-98% of disc herniations occur at L4-L5 or L5-S1.

-L4-L5 herniations – weakness extending big toe, numbness in web of first two toes

-L5-S1 herniations – numbness on outside of foot, radiating symptoms down back of leg, calf and heel (sciatica)

If you are concerned that you may have a herniated disc, consult a healthcare professional familiar with low back complaints. If they offer a typical course of anti-inflammatory meds and muscle relaxers, it may or may not help the symptoms but will not address the cause of the herniation in the first place. If you don’t have a healthcare provider in mind, contact me at The Human Body Shop to determine the cause of your pain and steer you in the right direction.
Surgery should be a last resort after you’ve exhausted every other option.

Do I have a disc herniation?