What Are The Reasons For Herniated Disk and Back Pain?
There are disk that divide the skeletal structures of the spinal column. These disks are made up of tissues such as fat and water connecting the spinal skeleton. They are not made up of nerves or blood vessels as many may assume. Gravity will cause these to leak water on a constant basis. We all know there is no escaping gravity. When someone takes the seemingly simple action of sitting, there is actually a lot of weight and pressure put on the disks and the spine.
As the day goes on, the water is restored in the disks, but it comes back at a slower rate than it goes out. There is a delicate balance between the fat and water in the disk. Someone can actually shrink when this balance is offset. Age will also lead this delicate balance of fat and water to loose its prior thickness and begin to thin out. This thinning can cause osteoarthritis. This thinning of the fat and water in the disk is the main cause of lower back pain for people.
The outer areas of the disks are covered by “annulus fibrosis”. Scaring of the tissues can result if any connective tissue thickens too much. When there is any injury or infection there can be decreased oxygen intake. This can usually lead to needing surgery. As for the inner parts of the disk, this is protected by the “nucleus pulposis”. This is a soft and polished part of the disk. The disks act as the support system for the bones, muscles and entire spinal column.
Whenever the disks are not guarding the spinal column, it can become deformed, dehydrated and pressured. The disks allow for great strength and flexibility and can hold up under a great deal of pressure. When there is a problem holding up to that flexibility, herniated disk slips and other injuries can result.
HNP, which stands for herniated nucleus pulposa, is the medical terminology for slipped disk. There is a resulting interruption of the nucleus pulposa. They can affect different areas of the spine, including L4, L5, which are lumbrosacral and the cervical C5-7.
There are many causes of slipped disk. Some of those are neck and back strain, incorrectly lifting heavy objects, accidents and trauma. Other causes include genetic deformities, weak ligaments, and disk degeneration. Symptoms such as severe lower back pain are the result of lumbrosacral. The pain will go from the back, to buttocks, to the legs. The victim may feel numb, tingling from the leg to the foot, and weakness.
If the disk problem is cervical, the person will have stiffness present at the neck. The pain will cause numbness and weakness along with tingling in the hands. The neck pain will travel to the arms and hands. This will lead to upper body weakness. Atrophy can affect the biceps and triceps. Straightening the back will be more difficult for someone if the lumbar is also affected.
There is a lot that takes place when the disk is slipped and the broken annulus fibrosis ends up pushing substances to the spacing in between the spinal column. The nerves, which travel everywhere in the body and the brain, make up the column. When there is a slipped disk, the nerves are all involved. If you have any of these issues, you will want more information about the central nervous system and how it all relates to slipped disk. You will first want to know the basics of the joints and their connective tissue and how it can all cause your back pain.
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