Knowing the Symptoms of Disc Herniation

Suffering from a disc herniation, also known as a herniated disc, slipped disc, and the ruptured disc can impact your day to day life. Even simple motions can become difficult to perform and painful. Herniated discs are often considered as a degenerative condition, occurring more often with age. Luckily, they can be treated by our Mount Pleasant and North Charleston chiropractors at Spine Pain Center. Below is a closer look at the condition and the disc herniation symptoms.

What is a Herniated Disc?

The spine is made of several individual bones called vertebra, and in between each vertebra are discs. These discs are donut-shaped and filled with a gel-like substance. The purpose of the discs is to cushion your motion as you bend and move, acting as a shock absorber. Sometimes, as people age, the walls to the discs can become thin and brittle, making them more prone to cracking. If the walls of the discs crack, some of the fluid substance can escape. When this happens, the discs herniate and put pressure on the spinal nerves or spinal cord.

Disc Herniation Symptoms

Symptoms of a herniated disc can vary depending on the location and severity of the injury. Herniated discs in the upper spine are felt in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. A disc herniation in the lower spine is felt in the buttocks, legs, and feet. Pain can range from a sharp, stabbing pain to a dull ache. For some people, pain is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness. Some people also report feeling clumsier than usual, tripping or dropping items more often. It is not unusual to feel more pain at night or when doing a specific movement.

Don’t Self-Diagnose. Have Our Chiropractors Determine If You Are Experiencing Disc Herniation Symptoms

It is advisable that you don’t self-diagnose a condition as, without the proper treatment, it could lead to long-term complications. Our chiropractors at Spine Pain Center has the means to diagnose a disc herniation. If you believe you are suffering from disc herniation symptoms, book your appointment with us today by contacting us at 843-606-2412 (North Charleston office) or 843-884-8444 (Mount Pleasant office).