Introduction
Persistent back pain is one of the most common complaints that makes it necessary to visit a general practitioner’s office. Most of the affected patients assume that this back pain is mostly related to a slipped disc. Contrary to this common opinion, however, a herniated disc is relatively rarely the cause of back pain.
What are the symptoms of a slipped disc?
Some of the most common symptoms of a band note incident are In order to recognize a herniated disc, the affected patients must pay attention to other typical symptoms. Especially disturbances of sensitive perception, such as numbness or tingling, can help to identify a herniated disc as such. In addition, prolonged compression of a nerve root can lead to a pronounced impairment of motor functions.
In general, the earlier a herniated disc is diagnosed, the better the prognosis. In most cases, short-term nerve root compression leads to symptoms that subside completely after successful treatment. However, pronounced compression of the nerve roots and/or compression over a long period of time can lead to permanent complications.
Particularly in the case of a deep herniated disc in the lumbar spine, for example between the 5th lumbar vertebra and the 1st sacral spinal segment, disturbances of intestinal and bladder voiding are among the most feared complications. and
- Back pain depending on the height of the incident
- Paralysis of arms or legs
- Sensory disturbances in the area of the arms or legs
- How do I distinguish a herniated disc from a lumbago? In addition, a herniated disc can often be recognized during the doctor-patient consultation, because affected patients indicate pronounced sensory disturbances.
These sensory disturbances can occur in the form of numbness and/or tingling. Their localization also allows conclusions to be drawn about the affected spinal segment. A subjective reduction in muscle strength can also help the treating physician to identify a herniated disc as such.
How can you recognize a herniated disc yourself?
It is often difficult to detect a herniated disc yourself. Most people assume that persistent back pain is inevitably associated with a herniated disc. In general, however, it can be assumed that the herniated disc is a comparatively rare cause of persistent back pain.
Much more frequently, such complaints are caused by muscular tension. Therefore, affected persons cannot recognize a herniated disc solely by the fact that they suffer from back pain. Nevertheless, pain in the area of the affected spinal segment can give a first indication of a disease.
In the case of a herniated disc, however, the pain is typically not limited to the back. In the case of a slipped disc in the cervical spine, the pain radiates from the neck to the arms. A herniated disc in the thoracic spine can be recognized by those affected by the fact that the pain radiates from the middle back along the ribs in the form of a belt.
A herniated disc in the lumbar spine, on the other hand, is usually manifested by pain radiating into the buttocks and/or legs. Learn more about the pain caused by a herniated disc. In addition to the pain, other symptoms can help to identify a herniated disc as such. Especially sensory disturbances in the form of numbness and/or tingling are among the typical signs of a herniated disc. In addition, the continuous compression of the nerve roots can lead to a significant decrease in the muscular strength of the respective identifying muscles.
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