Lumbar Disc Herniation: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment-Manual Therapy, PT, Surgery Share Us On: Facebook Twitter Google Digg Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest StumbleUpon Email Vertebral column has 33 vertebrae and the discs separate each vertebra in cervical, thoracic and lumbar segment. Disc is a cushion between vertebra and functions as a shock absorber. Weight is transmitted through vertebral column and thus through disc. Disc is made up of inner circular nucleus pulposus and outer annulus fibrosis. Nucleus pulposus is soft and thick gelatinous substance. Central nucleus pulposus expands with pressure and helps to absorb the shocks during weight transmission and movements of vertebral column. Accelerated pressure changes within disc and horizontal expansion of nucleus pulposus secondary to pressure results in disc bulge into annulus fibrosus. Annulus fibrosus is tough membrane and resist tear in healthy young individual. Illness such as disk degeneration weakens the fibrous annulus and disk bulge herniate through the torn or broken annulus fibrosus known as herniated disc. Lumbar disc herniation is observed in disc between L1 and S1 vertebra. Most common disc herniation is observed at level of L4/L5 and L5/S1 disc. Disc herniates either into inter-vertebral foramina (figure 1) or spinal foramina (figure 2). Inter-vertebral foramina is a lateral bony tunnel meant to pass the spinal nerve and lumbar spinal canal accommodates lower end of spinal cord and quada equina. Disc herniation into inter-vertebral foramina causes pinch nerve pain or radicular pain. Large disk herniation into spinal canal causes narrowing of spinal canal or spinal stenosis (figure 2). Spinal stenosis causes pressure on spinal cord or quada equina resulting in quada equina syndrome. Herniated Disc What Can Cause A Lumbar Disc Herniation? Lower Back Injury Resulting In Lumbar Disk Herniation- Auto or Car Accident- Whiplash injury caused by car accident changes pressure within disc and shears outer fibrous annulus membrane resulting in disc herniation. Improper Weight Transmission- Causes pressure changes in disc and results in herniation of disc e.g. domestic work, weight lifting, Work Accident- Repetitive lifting, bending, standing, and driving results in abnormal movements of vertebral column causing disc herniation. Contact Sport- Participation in contact sports causes rapid acceleration and deceleration of the body as well as change of direction of shear force results in disc herniation. Diseases Causing Lumbar Disk Herniation Osteoarthritis- Causes disc and cartilage degeneration results in tear of outer annulus fibrosus layer. Traumatic Disc Degeneration-Repeated trauma causes disk degeneration. Disc herniation may follow with minimum pressure changes within disc since outer fibrous layer is extremely weak secondary to degeneration. Chronic Smoking - A Risk Factor For Lumbar Disk Herniation Chronic smoking is associated with disc degeneration secondary to weak annulus fibrosis, which is often followed by herniation of nucleus pulposus. Obesity - A Risk Factor For Lumbar Disk Herniation Obese patient transmits extra weight through the vertebral column. Twist, fall or severe cough can cause disc herniation. What Are The Symptoms and Signs Of Lumbar Disk Herniation? Symptoms of Lumbar Disk Herniation Lumbar (Back) Pain-
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 08:25:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015