identify any associated spinal nerve involvement.determine predisposing risk factors and conditions.If the bulging disc leaks some of its contents around the nerves, this can cause local chemical irritation or inflammation. However, a disc bulge can cause referred lower limb pain by protruding into the spinal column and pressing against spinal nerves. The spinal nerves normally have room to slide up and down inside the spinal column whenever the body moves. It may cause altered sensation in the affected lower limb, such as pins-and-needles or numbness.ĭisc protrusion is a common cause of sciatica. Sciatica is often associated with altered nerve function. The pain radiates from the spine and down into the buttock, back of the thigh, leg and sole of the foot. Sciatica is nerve pain caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. This is because the discs ‘dry out’ and the contents are less able to ooze through any weakened areas in the outer disc shell. As we get older, we are less at risk of disc protrusion. The most common site for a disc protrusion is in the lower back, and lower backache can be a symptom. altered nerve function (numbness or pins-and-needles).referred nerve pain (pain radiation into the lower limbs).When this ‘jelly’ comes into contact with other structures, especially nearby spinal nerves, it can cause: This allows the soft jelly-like contents to ooze out. The problem is not that the entire disc ‘slips’ out of place but that a small area in the tough outer disc shell weakens. Terms like ‘protruded’, ‘herniated’, ‘extruded’, ‘bulged’ or ‘prolapsed’ better describe the situation. Discs are held firmly in place by ligaments, muscles and the vertebrae themselves. It suggests a disc has moved out of position, but this is not the case. Disc protrusionĪ ‘slipped disc’ is an inaccurate term still sometimes used to describe a disc protrusion. It’s often thought to be the most common cause of back pain in older people.

The most common symptom is back pain that can be aggravated by activity or prolonged sitting. These changes are often called ‘degenerative disc disease’. Often, these age-related changes do not cause problems, but some people can experience pain. This normal ageing process is thought to increase friction between the bones, resulting in growths around the discs. But the water content of discs reduces with age until they are comparatively thin and hard. The discs of a young child are plump and moist (fluid filled and well hydrated). If the force or load is more than the soft tissue can cope with, it may cause irritation and inflammation. Applying sustained or excessive load to any soft tissues of the body (such as ligaments, tendons or muscles) can cause pain. For some people, protruded discs can cause nearby nerve irritation and result in sciatica (nerve pain spreading into the lower limbs).ĭisc strain happens like any strains or sprains in other parts of the body. protruded discs (also called ‘herniated’, ‘prolapsed’, ‘extruded’ or ‘slipped’ discs).degenerative disc disease (which can also be found in people who do not have any symptoms).Often, however, disc changes develop without a recognisable risk factor. Some people are more susceptible to disc problems than others. pain, numbness or pins-and-needles radiating into an arm or leg if a disc has caused irritation of a nearby nerve.increased back pain with coughing, sneezing, laughing or straining.increased back pain when repetitively bending or with prolonged sitting.Back scans are often unhelpful for determining whether a person’s back pain is coming from a disc issue, as discs change with aging and with use. The symptoms of an irritated disc can vary according to its location and severity. Disc bulges, disc space narrowing (or disc height loss) and disc dehydration are normal, common age-related changes. These ‘age-related’ or ‘degenerative changes’ may be seen on an x-ray or back scan, even in healthy people with no back pain. This is known as disc protrusion.ĭisc changes happen across our lifetime as connective tissues change with age, and the structures of the spine adapt to cope with the physical loads of daily life. In some cases, this can push its contents out. But certain types of pressure can cause strain and irritation of the outer shell. The outer shell surrounds and holds the ‘inner jelly’ within the disc core.ĭiscs can handle quite a lot of pressure or load without problems. Discs provide shock absorption, keep the spine stable and give the vertebrae ‘pivot points’ to allow movement.ĭiscs have two parts: the elastic outer shell (the ‘annulus fibrosis’), and an inner jelly-like substance (the ‘nucleus pulposus’). These are the spongy cushions that separate the bones of the spine (vertebrae). The term ‘disc’ is short for ‘intervertebral disc’.

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