Herniated discs

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Herniated discs usually happen in the lower back or lumbar spine. We can give you the care you need.

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Orthopedics | About spine surgery | Diagnosis | Treatment | Recovery and rehabilitation

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Some vertebrae (bones) in the back are cushioned by soft discs that help the spine move. A herniated disc means it's damaged or ruptured (broken) in some way. When this happens, the disc can move out of its normal space and push on the spinal canal.

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Causes, symptoms and treatments

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Herniated discs are most common in young and middle-aged adults. They usually happen in the lower back or lumbar spine. In older people, the aging process can lead to a herniated disc.

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Back pain is common. The pain may also radiate out to the front of the body and the chest area. At times it can feel like the pain is coming from the heart, stomach area or kidneys. There can also be a feeling of pressure or nerve irritation, such as:
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness or tingling in one or both legs
- Increased reflexes in one or both legs that can cause exaggerated movement
- Changes in bladder or bowel movements
- Paralysis from the waist down
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We always try to find the least invasive treatment plan or the one that requires either no surgery or the simplest surgery possible. Most people don't need surgery.

If your quality of life continues to be affected after nonsurgical treatment, surgery may be the best choice. Our spine surgeon, Sean Keem, MD, is an expert in handling even the most challenging herniated disc cases.

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If a herniated disc is in the thoracic spine (the neck to middle of back), it can be serious because there's not much extra space around the spinal cord in this area. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and cause paralysis below the waist.

Most herniated discs are in the lower part of the back and aren't as serious. If a herniated disc ruptures or breaks, it can irritate nerve roots. If this happens, it can cause pain, weakness and numbness.

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In some cases, you may have a nerve root pinching a herniated disc. This can cause weakness in the arms or legs. Surgery can help stop this problem from getting worse. There are some rare problems that must be handled with surgery right away.

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