Herniated Disc Symptoms
Herniated disc symptoms can be very painful. Herniated discs occur when the disc, the soft spot in between the vertebra, ruptures. This can put pressure on the nerve roots. Ultimately, this can cause pain or numbness. Some people may show more herniated disc symptoms than others. Some people may not have any herniated disc symptoms. A herniated disc may occur in any part of the spine. The two most common places a herniated disc may occur is in the cervical (neck) or lumbar (low back) spine.
herniated disc symptoms
Herniated Disc Symptoms
Cervical Herniated Disc Symptoms
A herniated disc in the neck can cause a variety of symptoms. The most common herniated disc symptoms include: muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, and pain. Herniated disc symptoms can travel from the neck into the arms, shoulders, hands, and fingers. The pain patterns are determined by the location of which disc is herniated.
Herniated Disc Symptoms by Location in the Cervical Spine
The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae. C1-C7. The nerve affected by a herniated disc exits the spine at that level. For example, a herniated disc at C4-C5 can cause shoulder pain and weakness in the upper arm. A herniated disc in C5-C6 can cause weakness in the upper arms and numbness or tingling in the thumb. A herniated disc in C6-C7 can cause weakness in the triceps. One can also experience numbness and tingling down into the middle finger. Lastly, a herniated disc at the C7-T1 can cause a weakness in hand grip. Numbness and tingling can also radiate down into the hand and little finger.
Lumbar Herniated Disc Symptoms
A herniated disc in the lumbar spine can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Pain can vary from being moderate to debilitating. A lumbar herniated disc is the most common cause of sciatica. Sciatica is leg pain that radiates down the back of the leg. Nerve pain can be described as sharp, searing, piercing, or a radiating feeling. Other herniated disc symptoms may include numbness, tingling, or foot drop. Foot drop can cause difficulty lifting the foot when walking or standing.
Herniated Disc Symptoms by Location in the Lumbar Spine
The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae. A herniated disc at L3-L4 may lead to abnormal knee reflex. Pain from L3-L4 can radiate into the quadriceps femoris. This is different from sciatica. This pain radiates to the front of the thigh whereas sciatica radiates down the back of the thigh. A herniated disc at L5 can cause weakness when extending the big toe and ankle. This can lead to trouble with the heel-to-toe motion. This is also known as foot drop. Lastly, an S1 impingement can make it difficult for patients to stand on their toes or ball of their foot. Pain may also radiate along the outside of their calf to the foot and toe.
Prevention
It is possible to prevent a herniated disc. There are a few changes you can make now to help prevent a herniated disc. First, adding exercise into your daily routine will help strengthen your body. Strengthening the muscles around the spine help to stabilize and support the spine. The second thing you can do, is to maintain good posture. Good posture reduces the pressure on your spine and discs. Another thing you can do is maintain a healthy weight. This alleviates pressure off of the spine. It is also recommended to see a chiropractor regularly. They can help detect these symptoms early on and prevent them from worsening. Check us out at http://www.kudzu.com/m/ProAdjuster-Chiropractic-Clinic-30097886
