What Does a Herniated Disc Feel Like?

Feb 17, 2022

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Herniated discs are one of the most commonly reported health conditions involving the spine, and they can quickly send your spinal stability into a spiral. However, it may be hard to tell if you have one or not if you don’t know which signs and symptoms to look for. Here at AICA College Park, we have collective years of experience treating herniated discs and hope that spreading knowledge on what they are and how they function will lead to earlier treatment and a higher chance of recovery.

What Is a Herniated Disc?

Before we can discuss how it feels, we must first establish what it is. To start, we need to understand what a disc is in relation to the spine. The discs are cartilaginous pads between the vertebrae that act as shock-absorbing cushions. They’re made up of a hard outer layer and a soft, gelatinous center. During normal function, they help support the spine and help prevent shock-related injuries to the bones and surrounding nerves.

A herniated disc occurs when the hard outer shell of the disc ruptures, causing the inner gelatinous substance to leak into the surrounding tissues. Generally, the disc itself doesn’t generate pain when it ruptures, as it has no nerves telling the body when it’s broken. However, the gel inside has inflammatory properties and can irritate and pinch the surrounding tissues and nerves to the point of causing pain and numbness. It’s important to get a herniated disc treated as soon as possible, as the health of other tissues in your back can also be immediately affected by the herniated disc.

How Does It Feel?

When discussing the feelings a herniated disc can produce, it’s often best to sort them into two categories: pain involving nerves and tissues, and pain involving the spine itself. Though a herniated disc is the root cause of both, the type of pain a sufferer feels can be indicative of how severe their condition is and what should be targeted as a result.

Nerve and Tissue

As stated, a herniated disc does not usually cause pain on its own. Instead, the material pouring out of the disc pinches, inflames, or irritates a nearby nerve, resulting in discomfort. Sharp, shooting pains that radiate to other regions of the body, such as from the low back down the leg or from the neck down the arm, are known as radicular pain, or nerve root pain. This is the most common type of pain caused by a herniated disc, and it is often coupled with a feeling of numbness as the nerves are pinched.

A specific type of nerve root pain that can be caused by a herniated disc is sciatica, which occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched. This presents as lower back pain coupled with pain and numbness running down one leg.

Spine

If a spinal disc dehydrates or degenerates to the extent of generating pain and instability in the spinal segment, it is referred to as degenerative disc disease. Chronic, low-level pain surrounding the disc and periodic periods of more acute pain are common symptoms of degenerative disc disease, though this may also be coupled with the nerve root pain mentioned above as the unstable vertebrae can also trap the surrounding nerves.

A reduction in disc cushioning and support may also result in hypermobility between two vertebrae. This unusual mobility can cause muscular spasms and pain, as well as irritation of the joints and nerve roots. Bone spurs can also form as a result, as the body will create new bone tissue to compensate for a lack of support near a joint.

The Potential Consequences

As mentioned before, the health of the discs in your spine has a direct effect on the surrounding tissues. Herniated discs don’t get better on their own and, in fact, cause more problems the longer they’re left untreated. Beyond degenerative disc disease, severely herniated discs might cause irreversible nerve damage if left alone. The lack of a support structure can also fully compress the spinal canal in rare situations, resulting in cauda equina syndrome. This can lead to increased discomfort, numbness, weakness, and bladder or bowel problems. Cauda equina syndrome requires immediate medical attention, as leaving it alone can eventually lead to chronic weakness or even paralysis.

Degenerative disc disease comes with its own host of problems as well. The lack of padding can cause increased wear and tear on the joints, leading to arthritis. The hypermobility can also result in more discs becoming herniated or even the entire spine slipping completely out of alignment, which could result in scoliosis. Both herniated discs and degenerated discs can eventually cause disabling levels of pain and weakness if left untreated, so it’s important that the signs are recognized as early as possible.

Possible Treatment Options

Treatment for a herniated disc can vary widely based on what the cause was, how far it’s progressed, and where it’s located. Most commonly, herniated discs occur in the cervical and lower spine, as those two areas are under more pressure and more prone to injury than other parts of the spine. Treatment for neck pain and back pain can be very similar, however, as they’re both parts of the same structure.

Depending on how severe your case is, medical or surgical intervention may be required in order to correct the herniation. However, if caught early, there’s a distinct possibility that chiropractic could help. In one particular case, a man with degeneration and herniation in multiple discs saw a massive improvement in his condition and, as a result, his quality of life after multiple chiropractic sessions. Here at AICA College Park, we have dedicated ourselves to creating more success stories such as this one through the use of personalized care and an array of different professionals on staff. If you’re feeling hesitant about relying on medicine or going under the knife, our chiropractic team may be able to assist you.

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