Print
BlinkList
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Before looking at slipped disc symptoms it is important to know what a slipped disc is. A slipped disc occurs when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes it way through the tough outer capsule of the disc. Whether it causes pain or doesn’t, it is still a slipped disc. If the inner material that has escaped applies pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots in the area it is most likely that painful symptoms will occur. The location of the pain felt from a slipped disc is relevant to the area that the nerve being affected effects. Slipped disc symptoms felt from a nerve impingement in the cervical area of the spine will be felt in the upper extremities, while nerves affected in the lumbar spine will trigger slipped disc symptoms in the lower extremities.
Although the majority of slipped discs will occur in the lumbar region, and slipped disc may occur anywhere in the spine.
Factors leading to the development of a slipped disc
Risk factors leading to a slipped disc will increase with age as the chemical compound of the spinal disc begins to change. Poor posture along with improper body mechanics, carrying excessive weight due to obesity, improper lifting techniques and even smoking increases your risk factor of developing a slipped disc. Slipped disc may also be caused by sudden traumatic force being applied to the disc.
Slipped disc symptoms
Nerves affecting many areas of your body exit the spine at multiple levels. Keeping this factor in mind we start to understand how a slipped disc pressing on a nerve causes pain in the surrounding area it’s responsible for.
Below is a very general list of slipped disc symptoms
- Cervical slipped disc symptoms - depending on which nerve is affected by the slipped disc, symptoms may include numbness, tingling sensations, muscular weakness, or radiating pain in the shoulder, neck, arm, or hand.
- Lumbar slipped disc symptoms - numbness, tingling sensations, muscular weakness, or pain that radiates into the buttocks, down the legs, and often into the feet. Similar to cervical slipped disc symptoms, symptoms felt will be in direct relation to the nerve being compressed.
- Difficulty controlling bowel and bladder functions - numbness or a tingling sensation around the anus or genitals (read Cauda equina syndrome below)
- Radiating pain in the back of the leg, traveling from the buttocks to the knee. (sciatica)
Cauda equina syndrome
If the very bottom of your spinal cord becomes compressed it is possible to suffer from Cauda equina syndrome. This is an extremely serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms of Cauda equina syndrome may include:
- Lower back pain
- Rectal pain (lower bowel and anus)
- Trouble urinating
- Numbness in the groin
- Painful inner thighs
- Paralysis in one or both legs
- Bowel disturbance
Because of the serious nature of this condition it is extremely important that if you develop these conditions, you contact your health care provider immediately. If not treated promptly, Cauda equina syndrome may cause permanent damage to the nerves controlling your bowel and bladder.