By the time you turn 50, there's nearly a 100 percent chance that you've had a significant episode of back pain that is related to a spinal disc.
Back pain is a common part of our culture here in the United States and treatment for back pain results in billions of dollars in health-care expenditures each year.
But a substantial portion of this expense could be reduced if patients sought care in a timely fashion or were able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a disc problem.
Letting symptoms go untreated often leads to a worsening of pain and dysfunction that could have been avoided. Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of disc injuries and what you should do if they happen to you.
If your back frequently "gives out" you may want to get "checked out" before it happens again. Patients often experience a feeling of giving way before a slipped disc progresses to a herniated disc. When it feels like your back is going to give out, it means that the fibers that keeping your discs in place are under duress. See your health care practitioner before it reaches the point of no return.
If you have pain traveling from your back down into your leg, you most likely have sciatica. There are numerous forms of sciatica but most originate from problems in the lumbar spine and more specifically, problems with the discs. Back and leg pain is often a sign that a disc has slipped and pinched a nerve. Prolonged periods of nerve compression can cause disabling pain and strength loss.
If your back catches or locks up it may mean that the protective layer around your disc is being strained. This type of strain is typically caused by repeated forward bending and twisting of the back. Bend and twist enough times and you may find that you can't straighten out when you stand back up. If that's the case, try placing your hands on your hips and leaning backwards a few times - it may help to realign your spine.
Numbness and tingling in your buttocks, legs or toes is likely from a pinched nerve in the lumbar spine. A pinched nerve is another name for a compressive neuropathy, and most compressive neuropathies result from a disc bulge or herniation. If the nerve signs are transient lasting only for a few minutes, the compression is likely not severe. But if they last throughout the duration of the day, it's advisable to get examined quickly - the longer you have symptoms, the harder it is to get them to dissipate.
If you have pain in the same spot in your back without much variation in location, a disc could be the reason why. Disc bulges tend to yield symptoms in the same place. They often present as a thick band of pain across the base of the back with a focal point of pain on one side. There are other presentations, but this description encompasses more than 90 percent of the cases seen by physical therapists in a clinical setting.
If you suffer from a chronically tired or weak back, a disc bulge may be brewing. Feelings of muscle fatigue and low levels of strength have been linked to failing lumbar discs. If you have these symptoms regularly, it's time to start an exercise program to prevent further wear and tear.
Joe DiVincenzo is a physical therapist and clinical specialist in manual therapy. He writes "On the Mend" weekly. Questions may be submitted to Joe by e-mail: joedivincenzo@comcast.net.
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