Pain arising from spinal abnormalities are typically caused by a pinched nerve or a degenerating disc. Getting the correct diagnosis is key to finding a solution.

References

• 1.Lee YC, Zotti MG, Osti OL. Operative Management of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease. Asian Spine J. 2016;10(4):801–819. doi:10.4184/asj.2016.10.4.801
• 2.Donnally III CJ, Hanna A, Varacallo M. Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease. [Updated 2019 Sep 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448134/
• 3.Fujii K, Yamazaki M, Kang JD, et al. Discogenic Back Pain: Literature Review of Definition, Diagnosis, and Treatment. JBMR Plus. 2019;3(5):e10180. Published 2019 Mar 4. doi:10.1002/jbm4.10180

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A slipped disc refers to an intervertebral disc of the spine that has lost its normal shape and/or consistency. The altered shape occurs when the disc’s soft inner material (nucleus pulposus) bulges or leaks out of its external fibrous covering (annulus fibrosus). Several medical terms, such as herniated, ruptured, torn, bulged, or protruding disc may be used interchangeably with a slipped disc.

References

• 1.Herniated Disc – Symptoms, Causes, Prevention and Treatments. American Association of Neurological Surgeons website https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Herniated-Disc. Accessed June 01, 2020.
• 2.Inoue N, Espinoza Orías AA. Biomechanics of intervertebral disk degeneration. Orthop Clin North Am. 2011;42(4):487–vii. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2011.07.001
• 3.Gossman W, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. [Updated 2019 Jul 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28722852/
• 4.Gugliotta M, da Costa BR, Dabis E, et al. Surgical versus conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2016;6(12):e012938. Published 2016 Dec 21. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012938
• 5.Fujii K, Yamazaki M, Kang JD, et al. Discogenic Back Pain: Literature Review of Definition, Diagnosis, and Treatment. JBMR Plus. 2019;3(5):e10180. Published 2019 Mar 4. doi:10.1002/jbm4.10180
• 6.Peng B, DePalma MJ. Cervical disc degeneration and neck pain. J Pain Res. 2018;11:2853–2857. Published 2018 Nov 14. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6241687/

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The term sciatica refers to a set of symptoms, such as pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that radiates along your sciatic nerve—which typically courses from your lower back down to your feet.

References

• 1.Dulebohn SC, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. [Updated 2019 Aug 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/
• 2.Wright R, Inbody SB. Radiculopathy and Degenerative Spine Disease. In: Neurology Secrets. Elsevier; 2010:121-130. doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-05712-7.00007-6
• 3.Kumar, M. Epidemiology, pathophysiology and symptomatic treatment of sciatica: A review. nt. J. Pharm. Bio. Arch. 2011, 2.
• 4.Amin RM, Andrade NS, Neuman BJ. Lumbar Disc Herniation. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2017;10(4):507–516. doi:10.1007/s12178-017-9441-4
• 5.Morgan W.E, Herniated Disc A Survival Guide. 2nd ed. 2012.
• 6.McGill, S.M., Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Human Kinetics, Incorporated; 2015. https://books.google.com/books?id=ePF6DwAAQBAJ
• 7.Fairbank J, Mallen C. Cauda equina syndrome: implications for primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(619):67–68. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X676988

A thoracic herniated disc can cause upper back pain, numbness, weakness, and radiating pain into the chest or abdomen.

References

• 1.Cramer GD. General characteristics of the spine. In: Cramer GC, Darby SA, Clinical Anatomy of the Spine, Spinal Cord, and Ans, 3rd Edition. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2014: 122.
• 2.Han S, Jang IT. Prevalence and distribution of incidental thoracic disc herniation, and thoracic hypertrophied ligamentum flavum in patients with back or leg pain: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Cross-Sectional Study. World Neurosurg. 2018 Dec;120:e517-e524. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.08.118. Epub 2018 Aug 24. PubMed PMID: 30149175.
• 3.Court C, Mansour E, Bouthors C. Thoracic disc herniation: surgical treatment. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018; 104(1S):S31-S40. doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2017.04.022. Epub 2017 Dec 7.

Lower back pain can result from a number of possible causes. Learning about the specific symptoms of a slipped disc can help you understand if this condition may be the underlying cause of your pain.

References

• 1.Amin RM, Andrade NS, Neuman BJ. Lumbar Disc Herniation. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2017;10(4):507–516. doi:10.1007/s12178-017-9441-4
• 2.Kumar, M. Epidemiology, pathophysiology and symptomatic treatment of sciatica: A review. nt. J. Pharm. Bio. Arch. 2011, 2.
• 3.Gore S, Nadkarni S. Sciatica: detection and confirmation by new method. Int J Spine Surg. 2014;8:15. Published 2014 Dec 1. doi:10.14444/1015
• 4.Molinos M, Almeida CR, Caldeira J, Cunha C, Gonçalves RM, Barbosa MA. Inflammation in intervertebral disc degeneration and regeneration [published correction appears in J R Soc Interface. 2015 Jul 6;12(108):20150429]. J R Soc Interface. 2015;12(104):20141191. doi:10.1098/rsif.2014.1191
• 5.Slipped disk: Overview. Updated 2017 Jun 1. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279472/
• 6.Donnally III CJ, Butler AJ, Varacallo M. Lumbosacral Disc Injuries. [Updated 2019 Apr 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448072/
• 7.Bednar DA. Cauda equina syndrome from lumbar disc herniation. CMAJ. 2016;188(4):284. doi:10.1503/cmaj.150206
• 8.Kapetanakis S, Chaniotakis C, Kazakos C, Papathanasiou JV. Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Lumbar Disc Herniation: a Review of Literature. Folia Medica. 2017;59(4):377-386. doi:10.1515/folmed-2017-0038

Explore some common causes of back stiffness to help you discuss your symptoms with your doctor in a more productive way.

References

• 1.Jandre Reis FJ, Macedo AR. Influence of Hamstring Tightness in Pelvic, Lumbar and Trunk Range of Motion in Low Back Pain and Asymptomatic Volunteers during Forward Bending. Asian Spine J. 2015;9(4):535–540. doi:10.4184/asj.2015.9.4.535
• 2.Avrahami D, Potvin JR. The clinical and biomechanical effects of fascial-muscular lengthening therapy on tight hip flexor patients with and without low back pain. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2014;58(4):444–455.
• 3.Gupta N, Christiansen CS, Hallman DM, Korshøj M, Carneiro IG, Holtermann A. Is objectively measured sitting time associated with low back pain? A cross-sectional investigation in the NOMAD study. PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0121159. Published 2015 Mar 25. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121159
• 4.Heneghan NR, Baker G, Thomas K, Falla D, Rushton A. What is the effect of prolonged sitting and physical activity on thoracic spine mobility? An observational study of young adults in a UK university setting. BMJ Open. 2018;8(5):e019371. Published 2018 May 5. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019371
• 5.Wenker KJ, Quint JM. Ankylosing Spondylitis. [Updated 2018 Nov 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470173/
• 6.Newell N, Little J, Christou A, Adams M, Adam C, Masouros S. Biomechanics of the human intervertebral disc: A review of testing techniques and results. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. 2017;69:420-434. doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2017.01.037
• 7.Zirbel SA, Stolworthy DK, Howell LL, Bowden AE. Intervertebral disc degeneration alters lumbar spine segmental stiffness in all modes of loading under a compressive follower load. The Spine Journal. 2013;13(9):1134-1147. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2013.02.010

If you have tried the common sciatica treatments and if your symptoms continue to bother you, try these 4 overlooked and effective remedies to relieve your sciatica pain.

References

• 1.Jeong UC, Kim CY, Park YH, Hwang-Bo G, Nam CW. The effects of self-mobilization techniques for the sciatic nerves on physical functions and health of low back pain patients with lower limb radiating pain. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(1):46–50. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.46
• 2.McAllister R.K., Burnett C.J. (2015) Topical Analgesic Medications. In: Sackheim K. (eds) Pain Management and Palliative Care. Springer, New York, NY
• 3.Hao J, Ghosh P, Li SK, Newman B, Kasting GB, Raney SG. Heat effects on drug delivery across human skin. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2016;13(5):755–768. doi:10.1517/17425247.2016.1136286
• 4.Schott C, Zirke S, Schmelzle JM, Kaiser C, Fernández LAI. Effectiveness of lumbar orthoses in low back pain: Review of the literature and our results. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2018;10(4):7791. Published 2018 Dec 6. doi:10.4081/or.2018.7791

Learn 5 of the lesser-known approaches available for addressing pain caused by a lumbar herniated disc.

References

• 1.Malanga GA, Yan N, Stark J. Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury. Postgrad Med. 2015 Jan;127(1):57-65. doi: 10.1080/00325481.2015.992719. Epub 2014 Dec 15. Review. PubMed PMID: 25526231.
• 2.Carayannopoulos A. Comprehensive Pain Management in the Rehabilitation Patient. Springer Publishing. 2017.
• 3.Saanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari J, et al. Opioid release after high-intensity interval training in healthy human subjects. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018; 43:246-54.
• 4.Pavilack, L., Alstedter, N. & Wisniewski, E. Pain-free posture handbook: 40 dynamic easy exercises to look and feel your best. Berkeley, CA: Althea Press; 2016.
• 5.McKenzie, R. Treat Your Own Back. Orthopedic Physical Therapy Product. 7th edition. 1997

Despite being common in the general population, sciatica is often misunderstood. Here are 10 medical facts about sciatica to help you understand the symptoms accurately.

References

• 1.Davis D, Vasudevan A. Sciatica. [Updated 2019 Feb 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908/.
• 2.Cook CE, Taylor J, Wright A, Milosavljevic S, Goode A, Whitford M. Risk Factors for First Time Incidence Sciatica: A Systematic Review. Physiotherapy Research International. 2013;19(2):65-78. doi:10.1002/pri.1572.
• 3.Grøvle L, Haugen AJ, Natvig B, Brox JI, Grotle M. The prognosis of self-reported paresthesia and weakness in disc-related sciatica. Eur Spine J. 2013;22(11):2488–2495. doi:10.1007/s00586-013-2871-9
• 4.Wright R, Inbody SB. Radiculopathy and Degenerative Spine Disease. In: Neurology Secrets. Elsevier; 2010:121-130. doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-05712-7.00007-6.
• 5.Heuch I, Heuch I, Hagen K, Zwart JA. Association between body height and chronic low back pain: a follow-up in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study [published correction appears in BMJ Open. 2015;5(10):e006983]. BMJ Open. 2015;5(6):e006983. Published 2015 Jun 15. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006983
• 6.Shiri R, Lallukka T, Karppinen J, Viikari-Juntura E. Obesity as a Risk Factor for Sciatica: A Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2014;179(8):929-937. doi:10.1093/aje/kwu007
• 7.Kumar, M. Epidemiology, pathophysiology and symptomatic treatment of sciatica: A review. nt. J. Pharm. Bio. Arch. 2011, 2.
• 8.Gugliotta M, da Costa BR, Dabis E, et al. Surgical versus conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2016;6(12):e012938. Published 2016 Dec 21. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012938
• 9.Koes B. Moderate quality evidence that compared to advice to rest in bed, advice to remain active provides small improvements in pain and functional status in people with acute low back pain. Evidence-Based Medicine. 2010;15(6):171-172. doi:10.1136/ebm1132
• 10.Fernandez M, Hartvigsen J, Ferreira ML, et al. Advice to Stay Active or Structured Exercise in the Management of Sciatica. Spine. 2015;40(18):1457-1466. doi:10.1097/brs.0000000000001036

Don't let daily activities aggravate your lumbar herniated disc. Learn what actions to avoid and what you can do instead.

References

• 1.Alamin TF, Agarwal V, Zagel A, Qeli A. The effect of standing vs. variants of the seated position on lumbar intersegmental angulation and spacing: a radiographic study of 20 asymptomatic subjects. J Spine Surg. 2018;4(3):509–515. doi:10.21037/jss.2018.08.03
• 2.Gordon R, Bloxham S. A Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain. Healthcare (Basel). 2016;4(2):22. Published 2016 Apr 25. doi:10.3390/healthcare4020022
• 3.Shi Z, Zhou H, Lu L, et al. Aquatic Exercises in the Treatment of Low Back Pain. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 2018;97(2):116-122. doi:10.1097/phm.0000000000000801