Ruptured Disc

Nerve related symptoms

• Tingling or numbness in one leg
• Can begin behind the knee and extend to the ankle or foot
• Weakness in certain muscles in one or both legs
• Loss of bladder control

Causes and risk factors

• Caused by aging and degeneration
• Injury to the spine
• Can affect people of all ages, most common between 35-45
• Mainly affect people who perform heavy manual labor
• Also affect people who drive motor vehicles for long periods of time

Diagnosis

• X-rays are not useful
• EMG can be used to diagnosis certain nerve and muscle disorders
• An MRI scan may be done to confirm location and seriousness
• MRI can also looks for an infection or tumor
• MRI provides detailed images of soft tissues in the spine

Treatments

• Most herniated discs heal on their own over time
• Usually takes one to six months to cure
• Nonsurgical treatments are usually tried before surgery is considered
• Examples are: rest, medication, and exercise
• Surgery is necessary in only a small number (less than 10%) of people