Lower Back Pain
Obviously, the whole musing and discussion on back-pain, herniated discs have to start somewhere and the logical place is where and what it is, why it occurs, what types of difficulties and discomforts are there and how to treat and deal with them effectively. That is the main content and intent behind this first and introductory part. We have refrained from using complex terminology in this conversation (with a glossary provided at the back of the text for more detailed definitions, reference and easy-to-following reading ease for the audience – that’syou!).
So, without further ado, let us get on with it. Stay tuned for great insights, insider tips, to build your own knowledge, coping strategies and even bio-facts about what your spine is, the muscle groups that work, vertebrae and inter-vertrebral spaces (between), fluids, lubricants, joints, aging and degradation, challenges and obstacles, dynamics and complexities of the human system, particularly the back and neck!
Let us start this off with a key question:
Have you (personally, or known someone that has) ever been, felt battled or challenged by :
# A variety of on-going, recurring, constant, severe back pain symptoms
# Degenerative disc disease
# Lumbar, Sciatica lungo, Lower back pain
# Sciatica (nerve-related) aches and pains
# Vertebral column issues, concerns, problems, anomalies, imbalances, protrusions, leaks, tears etc.
… or other such related matters? Are you familiar with the nature, scope, characteristics, features, discomforts, disabilities and debilitating issues, coping with pain relief, remedies, therapies and the search for answers and solutions, then this is the guide for you . It is about so much more than back pain and herniated discs!
You can reclaim and regain your life, mobility and well-being, build a stronger back and live longer, healthier, fuller, better quality life, more active, balance, lifestyle, for longer.
Compression, inflammation and weakness often leads to immense suffering and back-related aches and pains. Sharp, piercing pain, anti-inflammatory meds, rest and relaxation, other physical manipulations and therapies are also considered, for pain relief treatment. Not uncommon is the specifically developed and specialized application use of traction, ultrasound, and electrical muscle stimulation, to relax spasmodic muscles.
Muscle imbalances, undue force, stress and tension, protrusion, bulging can all cause difficult pains to deal with. The root cause in many cases of herniated disks, even after test confirmation and formal diagnosis, can remain masked in secrecy and mystery.
Many a back-aches and pains sufferer, patient and/or diagnosed/ undiagnosed ‘victim’, will share with you that what we commonly refer to as a slipped or herniated disc is nothing to snuff at. The pain very real. Herniated disks are more common than most people think. It is considered to be the main contributor and cause for lower back pains. These disks, between the vertebrae enable movement, flexing and bending, absorbing shock. There are things that can aggravate or
worsen the condition, like excessive weight gain, putting more pressure on these components in your back, bad posture, improper demands on your back, lifting inappropriately for example will have similar results. But a herniated disc is also about more than a sharp lower back pain. A key symptom-set to be on the look out for, might include initially and on an on-going basis:
# "pins-and-needles" sensation
# burning pain centered in the back
# Loss of bladder or bowel control
# numbness in one leg
# Tingling
# weakness in one leg , feet or toes (sciatic nerve)
The pain at times can be so intense, severe and debilitating that you are left defenseless, desperate and in despair to say the least. It is not only about the threat of losing all mobility and movement, bending and flexibility in your back and body, it is also about immediately needed relief, getting and staying off your feet, knowing and understanding
you back, spine and pain relief dynamics, needs, remedies and therapies better, to improve your quality of life, physical condition, life a full and semi-normal life!
Back-pain and herniated disks do not just occur due to aging, there are many other factors, although as our population ages, the boomers get ready to retire, there seems to be an increase in the number of incidences, development and reports of this condition, meriting an in-depth discussion and musing on the topic to shed some more light on
what it is, what to do for, about it , how to diagnose, treat, heal, cure,live, cope and deal better with, overcome back-aches and pains due toherniated discs.
Herniated disc medical diagnoses and conditions, deal with situations and occurrences, where the (according to industry expert sources), nucleus pulposus escapes from the annular tears and enters the intervertebral foramina and the plates, vertebrae or disc that is made up of (i) fibrous (tough) tissue (as the outside rim) (ii) inner material (loose) , surrounded by the outer rim Cushioning, absorbing, protecting, enabling. If there is a break, inconsistency or anomaly in the outer rim of the disc, the more fragile inner material escapes into and through the cavity or opening . From here on outward it ends up in the spinal canal where get compressed, pinching nerves or the spinal cord itself, causing immense, intense and severe back-pain, like stabs of discomfort, debilitating and driving you to the point of wanting
to cry out in pain.
This so-called disc displacement , occurs between two vertebrae(typically in the lower, lumbar back, but can also happen elsewhere. It manifests itself as an acute injury to the annular ligament, leaving patients, sufferers and unfortunate victims to deal with this painful rupture. The fibro-cartilage of the disc between spinal vertebrae makes the affected and surrounding area most uncomfortable.
The nucleus tissue coming mostly from the center of a vertebrae or disc leaks and gets into the spinal canal. Intense pains will and can be experienced with sudden onset in lower back, legs, neck and arms even as the increased pressure is exerted against one or more of the spinal nerves. In medical terms and commonly also referred to as a ‘slipped’ or slipping’ disc, prolapsed discs or ruptured discs.
Just some of the systemic and characteristics of what you will deal with suffering from a herniated, hernia disc (slipped),
# A protruding central part of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal.
# Breakdown or tearing of fibrous outer rim, layer and circle, covering (annulus fibrosis)
# Bulging and too much torque, pressure, ruptures, tears and leaks
# Central and/or dorsolateral herniated disc
# Damage and pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
# Defect and dislocation
# disturbed anatomy and geometry in and of the back vertebrae, posture, loss of range of motion, flexibility, bending, mobility etc.
# excessive bone growth.
# Exerted pressure occurring in the lowermost part of the spine, most commonly occurring between or in the (i) fourth and fifth vertebral bodies , or the (ii) sacrum and fifth vertebrae.
# Failure and fatigue
# Fibrous extrusion of semifluid nucleus puposus
# Herniation (leaking, break, breach) of central gelatinous material
# Injury to the intervertebral disc
# Ligament-pain related to pinched nerves and related back-ache
# One-sided pain in the spinal canal, at the nerve-root
# Problematic joint space created by a disc and two vertebrae, impinged nerves put at increased risk due to herniated discs
# ruptured intervertebral disk leading to what is sometimes described by patients as a numb, tingling feeling (one or both legs, feet)
# Strain and tension manifesting as a Neck Syndrome or Degenerative
# Disc Disease, manifesting as a Herniated Disc or Mechanical Back Syndrome
# lower back pain (lumbago), accompanied with leg pain (sciatica nerve)
# Related conditions could include things like spondylolisthesis, degeneration, tumors, metastases and space-occupying lesions
Some refer to it as, commonly used terminology, synonyms and related lexicography:
# "slipped disc”
# black disc
# bulging disc
# disc degeneration or degenerative disc disease
# disc disease
# disc protrusion
# herniated disc
# pinched nerve
# prolapsed disc
# ruptured disc
# sciatica
# torn, ripped, herniated, and degenerated back, discs
# Damaged vertebrae
# discus intervertebralis/Intervertebral disc
When trying to understand the dynamics of what is happening to the back and the surrounding areas, fluid, nerves, joints, cavities, etc. in this are, you need to understand the anatomy, function and problem a little better.
One popular misconception, belied by its terminology and definition, has the disc SLIPPING, it cannot actually physically occur in this manner as we typically take the term to mean.
The intervertebral disc, is tightly held or squeezed, positioned between two vertebrae, fully attached.
The disc grows with the adjacent vertebrae, connected, flexible and can be moved, twisted, all in small.
Here are some more interesting, revealing facts about herniated discs and related conditions, problems and challenges:
The disease, condition, degeneration occurs in phases and stages:
# Incidence is highest in cervical disc herniation and the lumbar disc herniation.
# It can happen in any disc in the spine.
# It does not occur in the the upper two cervical intervertebral spaces, (sacrum, coccyx).
# Lumbar disc herniation is seen as one of the most common causes of reported lower back pain. Cervical, neck, upper-to-mid-back (thoracic) discs can also be affected.
# Onset in 30-40 age category, but can happen anytime when there is a leak of the nucleus pulposus substance (fluid).
# Age-groups 50 or 60, osteoarthritic degeneration or spinal stenosis occur more often.
Sites And Types Of Herniated Discs
Type # 1: Thoracic
* Involving the uppermost thoracic discs
* It can mimic cervical or lumbar disc herniations
* Not that common (less, lower incidence), rare manifestation and low occurrence, onset and trouble reported of/for this condition
Type # 2: Lumbar
* Also occurring between sacrum and 5th vertebrae
* Areas most affected would include the thigh, lower back and buttocks, also, leg, foot or toe (sciatic nerve)
* Between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae
* Mostly in the lower back
Type # 3: Cervical
* Affecting mostly cervical and brachial plexus nerves
* between fifth and sixth cervical vertebral bodies
* occurring mostly in the neck area
* often between the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae (if you have neck pain)
* pain is felt and experienced at the back of the skull, the neck shoulder girdle, scapula, shoulder, arm, and hand.
Now, that we have taken a look at the body, areas that might be/can be troubled and affected by herniated discs, we need to be certain that despite all the types, guises and masks this condition wears and manifests to the world, as symptoms, we need to take more issue with how we know, what we know, identify, seek, diagnose , to effectively treat the condition in the end GETTING OUR BACK HEALTH BACK!