Each year, around 3 million people in the United States get a back injury called a herniated disc. Herniated discs might not fit your expectations of what happens with a back injury: they don’t always occur abruptly, and they may not cause back pain.
If you’re concerned about a possible herniated disc, board-certified physiatrists Stephanie Clop, MD, and Alexander Behnaz, MD, can evaluate your symptoms, diagnose, and treat you. They provide top-of-the-line pain management care at Integrated Spine and Pain Services in Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia.
The discs in your spine are located between the vertebrae (bones) for cushioning and support. Each one has a soft inner core surrounded by a firmer exterior layer. When a disc is damaged, the soft inner portion can bulge or herniate through the outer layers.
Herniated discs can cause pain and other symptoms when they press on nearby nerves. If a herniated disc compresses a nerve that travels to your arm, for example, you might have pain or numbness in that arm. Symptoms can include:
You can get a herniated disc anywhere along the spine, but they’re most common in the neck and low back.
Some people are at a higher risk of herniated discs than others. Here are five factors that can make a herniated disc more likely:
How do you spend your day at work? Some job requirements put you at risk for back problems, including herniated discs:
Physical labor jobs that require lots of bending, lifting, and reaching can affect the discs in your back, leading to more herniated discs than you might otherwise experience.
Too much sitting in one position can also raise your risk for herniated discs. If you work a desk job, be sure to take frequent breaks to stand up and move around.
Men are about twice as likely to get herniated discs as women.
Surprisingly, people between the ages of 30 and 50 are the most at-risk age group for herniated discs. If you’re between these ages, make sure you use proper lifting techniques while lifting heavy objects, eat nutritious foods, and practice good posture.
It’s also important to make exercise a part of your routine, but be sure to stretch first.
Smoking affects the health and structure of your spinal discs, especially those in your lumbar spine (low back). Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco products can affect the integrity of your spine and reduce blood flow to its tissues.
If you smoke or use tobacco regularly, consider quitting. Not only could smoking cessation spare you the pain of a herniated disc, it could improve your health in many other ways, too.
Excess body weight places pressure on the discs in your lower back. Weight management can help reduce pressure on your discs, making them less likely to herniate.
Talk to your primary care doctor about what a healthy weight looks like for you, and strategies to help maintain it.
The experts at Integrated Spine and Pain Services can evaluate possible symptoms of a herniated disc and provide individualized care to reduce pain. If you notice signs of a herniated disc or other back problems, call the nearest office to book an appointment.
