![]() In the cervical region – There can be pain in the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, arm or chest, together with numbness or weakness in the arm or fingers. If the inner core does herniate and press on a nearby nerve, the resulting symptoms vary depending on the location of the herniated disk: Some researchers believe this pain is a signal that a disk's tough outer shell has been injured or weakened, not necessarily that the inner core has herniated. The first symptom of a herniated disk is usually back pain in the area of the affected disk. Herniated disks are relatively rare in the thoracic region, where they account for only 1 in every 200 to 400 disk herniations. Herniated disks are most common in the lumbar and cervical regions. The lumbar region between the vertebrae in the lower back, above the pelvis The thoracic area between the vertebrae in the upper back, near the ribs The cervical area between the vertebrae in the neck There are three distinct areas of the vertebral column where a herniated disk may occur: Individual risk factors – You may be at increased risk of a herniated disk if you work at a job or participate in a sport that involves heavy lifting or excessive twisting or bending. Studies are beginning to identify specific genes linked to inherited forms of disk disease. If the condition runs in a family, it may have an unusually early onset, even striking people younger than 21. Genetic factors – In some families, several close relatives suffer from herniated disks, whereas other families are not affected at all. With age, the disk's outer shell appears to degenerate slowly, possibly because of decades of upright posture and back flexion. Of all the factors responsible for herniated disks, aging is probably the most important. Most theories attribute this condition to a combination of the following factors:ĭisk aging – Herniated disks are rare in young people, but common among people aged 35 to 55. ![]() Scientists do not fully understand why disks herniate. In the most severe cases, a herniated disk can compress nerves that control the bowel and bladder, causing urinary incontinence and loss of bowel control. If the herniated disk presses on nerves in the nearby spinal canal, this can cause variety of nerve-related symptoms, including pain, numbness and muscle weakness. When this happens, part of the disk's soft inner core can bulge out of its normal position (herniate), producing a condition called a herniated disk. In some people, mostly middle-aged adults, a disk's tough outer shell develops an area of weakness or a small tear. This structure allows the disk to be firm enough to maintain the space between the vertebrae, but soft enough to compress when the spine flexes during bending, leaning and turning sideways. Each disk is made of a soft gel core surrounded by a tough, fibrous outer shell. The disks in your spine, called intervertebral disks, are thin, oblong structures that serve as cushions between the bones of your back (vertebrae).
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