Herniated Disk

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/herniateddisk.html

Also called: Bulging disk, Compressed disk, Herniated intervertebral disk, Herniated nucleus pulposus, Prolapsed disk, Ruptured disk, Slipped disk

Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bones called vertebrae. In between them are soft disks filled with a jelly-like substance. These disks cushion the vertebrae and keep them in place. A herniated disk is a disk that slips out of place or ruptures. If it presses on a nerve, it can cause back pain or sciatica.
Symptoms include

Back pain that spreads to the buttocks and legs, when the herniated disk is in your lower back
Neck pain that spreads to the shoulders and upper arms, when the herniated disk is in your upper back
Tingling or numbness
Muscle spasms or weakness

With treatment, most people recover. It can take a long time. Treatments include rest, pain and anti-inflammatory medicines, physical therapy and sometimes surgery. Losing weight can help, too.

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Herniated Disk: MedlinePlus