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Herniated disk

A herniated disk refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) that sit between the bones (vertebrae) that stack to make your spine.

A spinal disk has a soft, jellylike center (nucleus) encased in a tougher, rubbery exterior (annulus). Sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk, a herniated disk occurs when some of the nucleus pushes out through a tear in the annulus.

A herniated disk, which can occur in any part of the spine, most often occurs in the lower back. Depending on where the herniated disk is, it can result in pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg.

Many people have no symptoms from a herniated disk. For people who do have symptoms, the symptoms tend to improve over time. Surgery is usually not necessary to relieve the problem.

symptoms may include:

  • arm or leg pain: if the herniated disk is in your lower back, you typically would feel pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf, possibly in part of your foot as well. if the disk is in your neck, you would feel the most pain in your shoulder or arm. if you cough sneeze or move a certain way the pain could shoot into your arm or as well as your leg.
  • numbness or tingling: since the nerves are effected when you have a herniated disk, you could often have radiating numbness where the nerves are affected.
  • weakness: having a herniated disk can cause your muscles to weaken, and affect your ability to lift and hold things for long periods of time, it can also affect your balance.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk/symptoms-causes/syc-20354095
Disc Herniation - Physiopedia
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