What happens when a spinal disc ruptures?
If the spinal column tears open and the discs protrude outward, they can press on, or “pinch,” nearby spinal nerves. This is known as a ruptured, herniated, or slipped disc. A ruptured disc causes severe low back pain and, sometimes, shooting pain down the back of the legs, which is known as sciatica.
Is a ruptured disc life threatening?
Herniated disc is not life threatening, but in some cases it can lead to nerve damage that can be permanently debilitating.
How long does it take for a ruptured disc to heal?
The average amount of time it takes for a herniated disk to heal is four to six weeks, but it can get better within a few days depending on how severe the herniation was and where it occurred. The biggest factor in healing a herniated disk is time, because most often it will resolve on its own.
Can a ruptured disc heal itself?
Usually a herniated disc will heal on its own over time. Be patient, and keep following your treatment plan. If your symptoms don’t get better in a few months, you may want to talk to your doctor about surgery.
What does disk pain feel like?
Pain is often described as sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.
Can you be paralyzed from a herniated disc?
With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs. A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis.
How does it feel when a disc ruptures?
Some patients describe it as electricity or feeling like their leg is on fire. Other symptoms include pins and needles, or numbness and tingling. More severe disc ruptures can result in weakness in the muscles in your arms or legs as a result of pressure on the nerves controlling those muscles.
Can an xray show a herniated disk?
X-rays. Plain X-rays don’t detect herniated disks, but they can rule out other causes of back pain, such as an infection, tumor, spinal alignment issues or a broken bone.
How do I know if I’ve slipped a disk?
Check if it’s a slipped disc
- lower back pain.
- numbness or tingling in your shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs or feet.
- neck pain.
- problems bending or straightening your back.
- muscle weakness.
- pain in the buttocks, hips or legs if the disc is pressing on the sciatic nerve (sciatica)
What happens if you let a herniated disc go untreated?
If you leave a herniated disc untreated, you may experience intense, sharp pains, partial paralysis, or the inability to control bowel movements in relatively dire situations.