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What is a Herniated Disc?

A herniated disc – also referred to as a bulging, ruptured, or slipped disc – is a condition that occurs when an intervertebral disc extrudes into the spinal canal. As a disc degenerates over time as part of the natural aging process, the inner disc material can extrude into the spinal canal, as shown in the picture on the right. The light blue oval area is the disc, which is covered by a tough exterior called the annulus fibrosus. The annulus fibrosus has torn open (or herniated) and the soft inner core, called the nucleus pulposus, is bulging into the spinal canal on the lower right side of the disc. A lumbar herniated disc, or a herniated disc in the lower back section of the spine, can cause pain to radiate all the way down the legs and into the feet. In the area of the cervical (upper) spine, the pain can radiate from the neck to the shoulders, down the arms and into the fingers. Befor learning about herniated disc treatments, it will help to understand why the condition occurs.

Where a Herniated Disc Happens

Approximately 90 percent of disc herniations occur in the lower back at the L4- L5 level (lumbar segments 4 and 5) or L5- S1 level (lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment 1). When a herniated disc occurs in these areas, it can place pressure on the L5 nerve root or S1 nerve root, respectively, resulting in pain and other symptoms. Herniated discs are most often diagnosed in the lumbar region of the spine, but cervical herniated discs(in the neck) are not unheard of and occur in about 10 percent of patients.

Oftentimes, individuals suffering from back pain due to a herniated disc opt for open back surgery, which comes with high risks, hospital stays, and a lengthy recuperation time.

Herniated Disc Treatments

If you think you might be suffering from the symptoms of a herniated disc, please check out our herniated disc symptoms page. Here you can review detailed information provided by our world-class spine experts.

Also, following safe practices at home and in the workplace can help you avoid injuries of all kinds, including the most common injuries – those involving your back. This is why it's important to learn which activities you should avoid and which precautions you should take to ensure your back and neck remain healthy and strong. Visit our page devoted to herniated disc causes to further educate yourself on how to avoid back injury.

If you're fed up with missing out on your normal, active lifestyle because of the pain caused by a herniated disc, check out our page dedicated to herniated disc treatments. There, you can learn more about Laser Spine Institute’s minimally invasive procedures that can help you rediscover your life without back and neck pain.

Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 days

Also, feel free to visit our FAQ page if you still have unanswered questions, and contact us for more information.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.