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Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc

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A herniated disc occurs when the annulus (the outer fibers) of your intervertebral disc is damaged and the soft inner material of the nucleus pulposus ruptures out of its normal space. If the annulus tears near the spinal canal, the nucleus pulposus material can push into the spinal canal. There is very little extra space around your spinal cord, especially in the thoracic area. So when a herniated disc occurs in the mid back it can be extremely serious. In severe cases, the pressure on the spinal cord can lead to paralysis below the waist. Fortunately, herniated discs are not nearly as common in the thoracic spine as in the low back or lumbar spine.

Causes

Herniated discs can occur in children, although it is rare. A true herniated nucleus pulposus is most common in young and middle-aged adults and generally occurs in the low back. Disc herniation in the thoracic spine mostly affect people between age 40 and 60. In older folks, the degenerative changes that occur in the spine with aging make it less likely for them to suffer a true herniated disc.

Discs can also rupture from a small amount of force, usually because the annulus has been weakened from repeated injuries that add up over time. As the annulus becomes weaker, at some point lifting or bending can cause too much pressure across the disc. The weakened disc may rupture while you are doing something that five years earlier would not have caused a problem. This is due to the effects of aging on your spine, which is the most common reason for a herniated disc in the thoracic spine.

The material that has ruptured into the spinal canal from the nucleus pulposus can cause pressure on the nerves in your spinal canal. There is also some evidence that the nucleus pulposus material causes a chemical irritation of the nerve roots. Both the pressure on the nerve root and the chemical irritation can lead to problems with how your nerve root functions. The combination of the two can cause pain, weakness, and numbness in the area of your body to which the affected nerve supplies sensation.

In the thoracic spine, the pressure can also affect your spinal cord. This is due to the fact that there is little extra space within the spinal canal of your thoracic spine. Too much pressure on the spinal cord can lead to paralysis from the waist down.

Symptoms

The first symptom of a herniated disc is usually pain. The pain is most often felt in the back, directly over the sore disc. Pain may also radiate around to the front of your body. Pressure or irritation on the nerves can also cause symptoms. Depending on which nerves are affected, a herniated disc can include pain that feels like it is coming from another part of your body, such as your heart, abdomen, or kidneys.

Herniated discs sometimes press against your spinal cord. When this happens, symptoms may include:

Herniated disc in your lumbar spine:

Herniated disc in your cervical spine:

Pain from a herniated disc may start slowly and get worse over time or during certain activities. The symptoms of herniated disc often get better within a few weeks or months.