Guide To The Causes And Complications Of A Herniated Disc

When one of the cartilaginous discs in the spine moves out of its designated place between the vertebrae, it is referred to as a slipped, ruptured, or herniated disc. Any part of the spine can experience a herniated disc, as these cartilaginous discs are in the junction between all of the vertebrae. Herniated discs most often occur in the lumbar or lower spine and the neck or cervical spine. Symptoms can vary from one patient to the next, depending on the location and severity of the herniated disc. A patient's symptoms are minimal and mild when the herniated disc does not cause any of the neighboring nerves to become compressed. Symptoms include numbness, pain, and weakness in the affected area when the herniated disc causes a neighboring nerve to become compressed.