Understanding the Causes of a Herniated Disc

A herniated disc is a condition that occurs when one of the discs between the vertebrae in your spine becomes damaged. This can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in your arms or legs. It can also lead to other medical issues, such as sciatica. Understanding how a herniated disc develops will help you take steps to prevent it from happening in the future.

What is a Herniated Disc?

A herniated disc, also known as a ruptured or slipped disk, occurs when one of the discs between the vertebrae in your spine becomes damaged. This damage can be caused by factors such as age, injury, or degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis. When this happens, the inner core of the disc can leak out and press on nearby nerves. This pressure on the nerves can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in your arms or legs, depending on where the affected disc is located.

How Can You Get a Herniated Disc?

There are several ways you can get a herniated disc. One of them is simply through aging; as we get older, our discs start to wear down and become less resilient over time due to normal wear and tear. Another way you can get a herniated disc is by sustaining an injury—either from an accident or from doing too much strenuous activity without proper preparation or rest. Finally, certain degenerative conditions like arthritis can put extra stress on your spinal column over time and cause discs to rupture or slip out of place more easily than usual.

Herniated discs are not something to be taken lightly; if left untreated they can lead to serious medical complications like sciatica or even permanent nerve damage. That’s why it’s important for people at risk for developing this condition—including those with existing injuries or degenerative conditions—to be aware of what causes it and how they can prevent it from occurring in the first place. If you think you may have developed a herniated disc, contact your posmc right away so they can diagnose and treat it appropriately before any further damage occurs.

Call POSMC today!

To schedule an appointment with one our specialists, contact our scheduling department at 972-250-5700 or request an appointment online.

POSMC is a full-service medical facility specializing in the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic injuries. The practice is led by a group of 12 board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. Contact us today!