Many people suffer from back problems everyday of their lives. Most people that have lower back pain and leg pain are diagnosed with a herniated disc. A disc herniation occurs when the cushion that sits between the spinal vertebra is forced outside of its normal position. The reason for most of the pain has to do with the spinal nerves. When the cushion is pushed out of the vertebra it pinches the nerves that are very close to the edge of the spinal discs.
The spinal discs consist of a soft cushion like material that sits between each vertabrae of the spine. These discs act as shock absorbers to the body. When pressure is applied through running, walking, wrestling, playing, it is the disc that absorbs that energy. Because of the amount of energy put on these discs, they become more rigid with age. People that are young have elastic and soft discs, but after time they loose their elasticity and become more vulnerable to injury.
When the spinal discs start to lose their elasticity they are known to rupture and move. When this happens, a percentage of the disc is outside of its normal location in the body and thus it becomes herniated. When the disc or discs starts to shift and break, the spinal chord and nerves can be pinched and compressed. The spinal nerves are very sensitive to the slightest amounts of pressure. This usually causes extreme pain, weakness, or even numbness in the legs.
When the spinal nerves and spinal chord are tampered with, they usually do not work properly. This means that signals may not get passed from the part of the nerves that are compressed. Sometimes signals are blocked all together. Electric shock pain is a symptom that is caused by a herniated disc. Pressure on the nerves can cause unusual sensations, which is usually displayed in by electric shock throughout certain parts of the body. If you have a compressed disc in your lower back you will feel pain in your legs, while if you feel pain in your arm, that means you have a compressed disc in your neck.
There are several risk factors that are associated with a herniated disc. Age of course is a major factor. With age the discs become less flexible and shrink. This causes high risks of herniation. Improper lifting is a major cause of back problems. Too many people lift with their back, which applies extreme amounts of pressure. Eventually the disc will rupture due to the amount of force. Excessive body weight can add excessive stress to the lower back. Keeping your weight at a healthy level can take tension and pressure off your back to eliminate any discomfort. Other factors that can cause a herniated disc are sudden pressure on the back and repetitive strenuous activities.
Keeping your back strong and healthy is a huge key to a pain free life. Your back plays a huge role in your life and needs to be able to perform for a long time. Knowing what causes back pains can help prevent the pain from ever occurring.
