Healthy Living experiences slipped discs

When it comes to back pain, we’ve all been there. Usually we diagnose the causes to be due to a range of issues, from the back going out, to hernias and of course a slipped disc. This week Healthy living explores the real root of your back pain when you think you have a slipped disc.

Marleni Cuellar, Reporting

Our spine is one of the most important parts of the human body. It helps us walk straight, provides support and so much more. When we have backaches, its important role becomes underscored. Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr Francis Smith, says that about half the patients he sees come in for back pain most thinking they have a slipped disc. That’s a common misdiagnosis he helps us to clarify.

Dr. Francis Smith, Orthopedic Surgeon

Francis Smith

“It’s a rubbery cushion that we have between the individual backbone called vertebrae s o they’re propped up one over the other and we call that the spine. The discs are the cushion between the spine.  The disk can’t quite slip. So that’s not the term it’s what the lay persons use.”

The spinal disks, Smith explains are circular disk-like formation of tissues that are filled with jellylike substance that support the bones of the spine. They are often damaged as we age and cause pain but they do not actually slip or move from its place.

Dr. Francis Smith

“It very much looks like a donut with a gelatinous inside. When we are young and healthy, these discs are quite springy and shock absorbent and elastic and as you get older the disc loses its water content and becomes less elastic and more prone to rupture. This can happen with the simplest of efforts—with a twist, bending forward. These discs can bulge or tear as I said before. Its age related it’s very common between the ages 35 and over. And there’s some risk factors as well. So if you are overweight, it can be occupational so depending on the type of work you do. People involved in construction who need to be bending their back. So repetitive pushing, pulling, Lifting would make you more prone to suffering from a slip disc.”

For those who have experienced spinal disk problems, the pain is excruciating. Often times, it is written off early as a mere backache.

Dr. Francis Smith

“At first it’s lower back pain or localized back pain and as it worsens. The pain would be radiating from the buttocks, along the posterior and lateral aspect of the thighs, sometimes all the way to the toes. This could be accompanied by numbness, pins and needles sensation and these things we’ll refer to as neurological deficits so it can have two components.  One is sensory, so we say when you can’t feel well and there is loss of sensation you can say we have sensory deficit. And sometimes its motor meaning you’ve loss function, you can’t bend or extend your foot or your ankle and this would be an indication for surgery.”

However, the cases actually requiring surgery are about one in every ten cases of spinal disk problems when the damage threatens to be irreversible. One good way to prevent this problem is by keeping the body in shape.

Dr. Francis Smith

“When these muscles are extremely strong they provide dynamic support as oppose to for instance using a back brace or a corset which would be an artificial means of support. What you want I dynamic support being provided by these core muscles.”

Usually, treatment for minor spinal disk problems include pain killers, muscle relaxers and in some cases steroid shots. Dr Smith advises that increasing the range of movement daily can be helpful as well especially for those who lead sedentary lifestyles.