When a sharp pain shoots down your leg or a constant ache settles deep in your back, it’s hard to focus on anything else. Simple things like bending down, sitting at your desk or lifting a bag of groceries can become major challenges. Often, the source of spinal disc pain is a small, cushion-like structure in your spine: an intervertebral disc, which is also known as the spine’s natural shock absorber.
Your spinal discs sit between the vertebrae (bones in your spine) and protect your spine as you move. But when a disc is damaged, it can disrupt your life in a big way.
If you’re in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and pain is holding you back, the spine experts at Summit Orthopedics are ready to listen and help. We partner with you to find the cause of your pain and provide the highest standard of care—so you can get back to your life at its summit.
What Are Types of Spinal Disc Problems?
Imagine your spinal discs are like tiny jelly donuts. They have a tough outer layer and a soft, gel-like center. This design allows them to be strong yet flexible. A spinal disc problem occurs when any part of this structure is damaged. The damage can cause pain on its own or cause the disc to press against nearby nerves, leading to other symptoms. Here are some common types of spinal disc problems.
- Bulging disc: A bulging disc occurs when the outer layer of an intervertebral disc weakens or loses its shape, causing the disc without rupturing. This condition can lead to pain, discomfort or other symptoms.
- Degenerative disc disease: This isn’t really a disease but a natural part of aging. Over time, discs can lose water, becoming thinner and less flexible. This wear and tear can lead to pain, stiffness and other spinal issues.
- Discitis: This is a rare but serious condition in which the disc becomes infected, leading to severe pain. Discitis requires immediate medical care.
- Herniated disc: This is when a crack in the tough outer layer allows some of the soft gel-like center to push out. This material can irritate or press on the spinal cord or a nearby nerve root (the part of a nerve that branches off from the spinal cord) and cause leg pain, numbness and weakness. A herniated disc is also known as a slipped disc.
What Are the Symptoms of a Disc Problem?
Your body sends signals when something is wrong. Not everyone with a disc problem has symptoms, but if you do, you might feel:
- Muscle weakness that can affect your grip or cause you to stumble.
- Numbness or a “pins-and-needles” feeling in your arms or legs.
- Pain in your back or neck that can be sharp or a constant, dull ache.
- Pain that worsens with certain activities, like sitting for long periods, bending or lifting.
- Radiating pain (pain that travels from one area to another) that moves from your back into your buttocks, leg or foot, a condition often called sciatica. It can also travel from your neck into your shoulder and arm.
When to Seek Care Immediately
Severe weakness in your arms or legs or losing control of your bladder or bowels are signs of a serious condition. Seek emergency care if you experience these symptoms.
How Do Spinal Discs Get Damaged?
Several factors can contribute to disc problems. As we get older, our discs become less rubbery and more prone to damage. Other common causes include:
- Lifestyle factors: Being overweight, smoking and not getting enough exercise can all negatively affect the health of your discs and increase your risk of problems.
- Repetitive strain: Jobs or hobbies that involve frequent bending, twisting or lifting put extra stress on the spine.
- Sudden injury: A fall, car accident or lifting something too heavy the wrong way can cause a disc to bulge or herniate.
Diagnosing Spinal Disc Problems
To create the right treatment plan, your doctor first needs an accurate diagnosis. This journey starts with a conversation. Your Summit Orthopedics specialist will listen to your concerns, ask about your symptoms and perform a careful physical exam.
Your doctor may need to get a clearer picture of problems in your spine. They might order imaging tests, such as:
- An X-ray, which can show the alignment of your bones
- An MRI or CT scan, which provides a detailed view of your discs, nerves and spinal canal (the tunnel in your vertebrae that protects the spinal cord)
How Spine Specialists Fix Spinal Disc Problems
Our first goal is always to help you feel better using the simplest, most effective methods. Most spinal disc problems improve significantly with nonsurgical care. Your personalized plan may include:
- Lifestyle changes: Learning better posture, taking breaks from sitting and avoiding activities that strain your back can make a huge difference.
- Medication: Over-the-counter and prescription medications may reduce pain and inflammation.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help you strengthen the core muscles that support your spine, improve your flexibility and teach you safer ways to move.
- Therapeutic injections: These shots deliver powerful anti-inflammatory medicine (like steroids) directly to the source of the pain.
When Is Spine Surgery the Right Choice?
If your pain doesn’t improve or if nerve damage is getting worse, spine surgery may be the best option to provide lasting relief. Our surgeons specialize in procedures designed to restore function and stop pain, such as:
- Discectomy, a surgery to remove the damaged part of a disc
- Spinal fusion, a surgery to permanently join two or more vertebrae to stop painful motion
- Artificial disc replacement, a surgery to replace a worn-out disc with an artificial one
Take the Next Step Toward a Healthier Spine
You don’t have to let back or neck pain dictate your life. While you can’t turn back the clock on aging, simple steps like exercising, maintaining a healthy weight and using good posture can protect your spine for years to come.
If pain is holding you back, the spine experts at Summit Orthopedics are ready to listen and help. We partner with you to find the cause of your pain and provide the highest standard of care—so you can get back to your life at its summit.
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care.
Find your Summit Orthopedics spine expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
