occurs when the soft inner part of the disc slips out of its slot into the spinal canal.

The most common symptom of disc herniation in the lumbar spine is pain which spreads from the lower back along one or both legs. It is similar with cervical spine when the pain extends to the arms from the neck.

Intervertebral disc has a tough outer layer or annulus that surrounds the inner soft, jellylike center called nucleus.
Disc hernia occurs when nucleus exits from its central part because of a punctured annulus. In this condition disc tissue compresses neural roots in spinal canal which leads to pain irradiation along one or both legs and neurological outbursts.

  Side view on disc herniation between L4 and L5


  Cross section


Between each two vertebra there is a disc whose main role is to transfer the weight along the spine column. The disc becomes dehydrated with aging and as such it is more prone to injuries. Slipped disc is a very frequent condition which can cause a manifestation of symptoms or remain asymptomatic.

As the disc is situated just underneath the spinal roots, slipping of the disc leads to immediate pressure to those structures and therefore the development of pain as a first warning sign that something ill is happening in the spine.

When this condition occurs it is imperative to apply an adequate diagnostic method and suggest individually tailored treatment to the patient.

In the process of diagnosing the problem the first step is a clinical exam and then deciding on further diagnostic procedures and the course of treatment.

A clinical exam enables the doctor to pinpoint the location of the pain based on the information given by the patient and related procedures and then to order additional tests to confirm its initial finding.

The MRI exam is a test that gives the neurosurgeon the most information about pathological changes on the spine. Nevertheless, all other radiological and neurophysiologic tests have their place.

When we are confident that herniated disc is the cause of the patient’s discomfort, in most cases the course of treatment implies resting and medications until the pain syndrome diminishes.

If the pain does not reduce, consider using ESI and other infiltrations aimed to relieve the pain. After restoring control over the pain syndrome, individually adjusted physical therapy can begin.

If there is no significant improvement in the functional state of the patient within a month, you should consider undergoing a neurosurgical treatment. Be advised that postponing of indicated surgery for longer than 4 months since initial diagnosis diminishes the success of the procedure.