A herniated disc is a common cause of back and neck pain, and a frequent reason for the radiating pain, numbness and tingling that can travel down an arm or leg. It happens when one of the cushioning discs between the bones of the spine is damaged and its soft inner material pushes out, sometimes pressing on a nearby nerve. Although a herniated disc can be painful, many improve with time and nonsurgical care.

If you are dealing with back or neck pain or pain that radiates into a limb, the right diagnosis is the first step toward relief. The board-certified and fellowship-trained spine specialists at Resurgens Orthopaedics diagnose and treat herniated discs at locations across metro Atlanta.

• What Is a Herniated Disc?
• Herniated Disc vs Bulging Disc
• What Causes a Herniated Disc?
• Herniated Disc Symptoms
• Herniated Disc Self-Care and Relief
• How a Herniated Disc Is Diagnosed
• Herniated Disc Treatment
• Schedule an Appointment for a Herniated Disc

Between each of the bones of the spine sits a disc that works like a cushion, absorbing shock and letting the spine bend and twist. Each disc is a bit like a jelly donut: a soft, gel-like center surrounded by a tougher outer ring. A herniated disc happens when the outer ring weakens, or tears, and some of the soft inner material pushes out through it. If that material presses on a nearby nerve root or the spinal cord, it can cause pain and other symptoms, not only in the back or neck but along the path of the affected nerve. A herniated disc is sometimes called a slipped or ruptured disc.

These two terms are often confused, and the difference comes down to how much the disc is damaged. With a bulging disc, the disc flattens and extends beyond its normal edge, but the tough outer ring stays intact, and the inner material is still contained. A bulging disc is common with age and often causes no symptoms. A herniated disc is a further step: the outer ring has torn, or the inner material has broken through, which makes it more likely to press on a nerve and cause pain. A bulging disc can develop into a herniated disc over time, and only imaging can tell them apart for certain. Both are also different from degenerative disc disease, the gradual breakdown of the discs with age, although the two conditions often occur together.

Most herniated discs come from the gradual wear of the spine over time. As the discs age, they lose some of their water content and flexibility, which makes the outer ring more prone to tearing, even with ordinary movement. Common contributors include:

• Age-Related Wear: Changes that weaken the discs over the years
• Heavy Lifting: Lifting something heavy or lifting with the back instead of the legs
• Sudden Strain: A sudden strain from twisting or bending
• Repetitive Activity: Physically demanding activity repeated over time

Factors such as excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle and smoking can also make a herniated disc more likely.

Some herniated discs cause no symptoms at all and are found only when imaging is done for another reason. When symptoms do occur, they depend on where the disc is and whether it is pressing on a nerve. The most common locations are the lower back and the neck.

Lumbar Herniated Disc (Lower Back)

A herniated disc in the lower back is the most common type. It can cause low back pain and, when it presses on a nerve root, pain that radiates through the buttock and down the leg, often with numbness, tingling or weakness. This radiating leg pain is commonly known as sciatica.

Cervical Herniated Disc (Neck)

A herniated disc in the neck can cause neck pain along with pain, numbness, tingling or weakness that travels into the shoulder, arm or hand, and sometimes discomfort felt between the shoulder blades. When a herniated disc pinches a nerve in the neck, the resulting symptoms are known as cervical radiculopathy.

Symptoms often worsen with certain movements, or with coughing or sneezing, and they usually affect one side of the body.

Please Note: Seek emergency care if a herniated disc comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or inner thighs or sudden or severe weakness in the legs. These can be signs of a serious condition called cauda equina syndrome that needs immediate treatment.

Many people want to know how to heal a herniated disc quickly. While there is no instant cure, many herniated discs get better over time as symptoms settle, and good self-care supports that natural healing:

• Gentle Activity: Staying gently active and avoiding the movements that trigger your pain, rather than strict bed rest
• Ice, Then Heat: Ice on the first day or two, then heat to relax tight muscles
• Medication: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to ease pain and inflammation
• Gradual Return: Easing back into normal activity as the pain settles

If your symptoms are severe or if they are not improving after a few weeks of self-care, a spine specialist can help.

A spine specialist can often diagnose a herniated disc from your symptoms and a physical examination that checks your strength, reflexes and sensation to see which nerve is affected. An MRI is the most useful imaging test because it shows the discs, nerves and soft tissues in detail and confirms the location of the herniation. An X-ray does not show a herniated disc itself, but it can rule out other causes of pain, such as arthritis or an alignment problem.

Many herniated discs are treated successfully without surgery, and most people do not need surgery. Treatment focuses on relieving pain and pressure on the nerve while the disc heals.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Conservative care helps many people:

• Physical Therapy: Exercises to relieve pressure on the nerve and strengthen the muscles that support the spine
• Medication: Anti-inflammatory or other medication to manage pain
• Activity Changes: Activity modification and a gradual return to normal movement
• Injection: A spinal steroid injection, in some cases, to reduce inflammation around the nerve

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is considered when symptoms are severe, when they do not improve after a thorough course of nonsurgical care or when there is significant or progressing weakness. A common procedure is a discectomy, which removes the portion of the disc that is pressing on the nerve, often performed with minimally invasive techniques. In the neck, this may be done as an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Your Resurgens spine specialist will explain whether surgery is appropriate and what recovery would involve.

Schedule an Appointment for a Herniated Disc

If back or neck pain or radiating symptoms are affecting your daily life, a spine specialist can find the cause and guide your treatment. Book an appointment online today with Resurgens Orthopaedics or call us at (404) 847-9999.