The ruptured tissue or the herniated disc material can enter the spinal canal. When this occurs, the extra pressure can squash the spinal
cord, and more often, the spinal nerves. Prolapsed discs occur mainly in young and older adults but rarely in children. The condition may occur
suddenly or develop over a period of time.
Symptoms:
Depending on the onset of the herniated disc, symptoms can include neck or back pain in some most cases. The main symptoms of a
herniated disc are:
- Numbness, tingling in one or both legs or arms, sensation of pins and needles
- Pain behind one or both shoulder blades or one or both buttocks
- Pain coursing down one or both legs or arms
- Weakness involving one or both arms or legs
In severe cases of prolapsed disc symptoms may also include loss of bladder control and/or control of bowels. There can also be
numbness of the genital area, causing in impotence in men.
The symptoms depend on which nerve or nerves have been affected. In other words, symptoms differ based on the precise site of the
herniation.
Diagnosis:
If your physician suspects a disc prolapsed, he will thoroughly go through your medical history. The medical analysis will include details
about past injuries, if any, location and nature of the pain and the symptoms you experience. The doctor may ask you questions about any difficulties
in walking, urinating or when you empty your bowels.
The physician will then use one or more following diagnostic techniques to confirm the occurrence and pinpoint the location of the
herniation:
- Computerized Tomography scan
- Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI)
- CT Myelogram in rare scenarios wherein patients has cardiac pacemakers
Treatments:
Mild cases of disc prolapses generally heal naturally within six to eight weeks. More severe case will require treatment, which may include
non-surgical procedures like medication, physiotherapy, etc., In most of the conditions an injection around then pinched nerve called as epidural
steroid injection, facets block, and nerve root blocks cures the patient pain. However, if the condition deteriorates, surgery may be last resort.
Surgery:
If conventional treatment methods do not help, doctors may recommend surgery based on the location of the prolapse and the extent of damage.
Surgery is anyway a reliable method to treat disc prolapse.
The operation takes under local anesthesia where the prolapsed disc material will be removed and the pressure in nerve will be relived of.
In most of the cases, recovery after surgery has seen to be speedy and seamless.
