Many people suffer from chronic back pain which can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, in many cases; it is the result of a herniated disc. Herniated discs can occur anywhere along the spine but generally affect the lower back area. Physical therapy patients may also be familiar with other terms used to describe a herniated disc including bulging disc, ruptured disc or protruding disc, although the treatment for the condition is the same. Almost 60 to 80% of people experience some level of lower back pain in their lives, and many may experience the issue due to a herniated disc.

What Causes a Herniated Disc to Develop?

Spinal discs are soft and rubbery pads, designed to work as shock absorbers, located between the bony vertebrae that help make up the spinal column. Made of a thick outer ring of cartilage and an inner gel-like substance, spinal discs work to allow the back to bend with ease. Additionally, your spinal column helps protect delicate nerves and your spinal cord. If the cartilage in your spinal disc somehow tears or develops a defect, the gel-like substance or nucleus can break through. This bulging or herniation can then put pressure on the nerves, resulting in intense pain. In fact, even small amounts of pressure on your spinal nerves can cause weakness, numbness & pain.

Herniated discs in the lower back can be particularly painful because they put pressure on the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica. The sciatic nerve is actually made up of several spinal nerve branches that travel from the spine & down into the leg. If the sciatic nerve becomes pinched, pain can radiate from the buttocks area, down throughout the back of the leg, and into the shin and foot. Luckily, physical therapy can work to reduce the pain caused by the condition.

When you are young, your spinal discs have a high water-content level, made up of almost 80 percent water. However, as you age, the water content in your spinal discs lowers. This causes the discs to become less pliable and increases the risk of tears or other defects. Some of the other common causes of herniated discs include:

• Traumatic injury
• Excessive body weight or obesity
• High-impact sports
• Heavy or incorrect lifting
• Repetitive twisting movements (workplace injuries)

Common Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

Symptoms associated with a herniated disc may vary depending on where the injured disc is located. Some of the most common symptoms you may experience include:

• Burning, numbness, or tingling in the back, buttock, legs, and/or feet.
• Pain when bending or twisting
• Pain that intensifies when sitting, coughing, sneezing, or bending
• Weakness in the legs

How Can SOS PHYSIO Rehab Help?   

If you think you may have a herniated disc or other back pain issues, physical therapy at SOS PHYSIO Rehab can help. We recommend scheduling a consultation with our physical therapist as soon as possible.

Physical therapy at SOS PHYSIO Rehab is a safe & non-invasive pain treatment option designed to help patients of all ages heal from the inside out. By using physical therapy treatments, our skilled physical therapist can work to relieve back pain and reduce inflammation, stimulate blood flow & restore your range of motion.

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