The spinal discs consist of a tough outer layer and a soft centre. Herniated discs occur when the outer layer develops a tear and some of the soft centre pushes through; this can compress nerves, causing pain and disability. Herniated discs can occur anywhere along the spine but are most common in the lower back.
They are also sometimes referred to as a slipped disc or a bulging disc.
This condition can be very painful and can be caused by wearing out of the disc that separates two vertebrae, or a degeneration of one or more discs, as you age.
Trying different non-surgical techniques, depending on the amount of pain and degree of weakness that you are experiencing, is almost always the first step in treating disc herniation. Options your doctor may recommend include:
- Physiotherapy, plus pain relievers
- Epidural / Perineural injections
- Oral steroids / pain killers
- Anti-inflammatory medications
In many cases, surgery involves removing the protruding piece of the disc. Very rarely, the entire disc may need to be removed. This usually includes fusing the vertebrae which the disc separated.