Collapsed Disc

Along the spine, there are discs located between the vertebrae. The purpose of these discs is to take pressure off the spine. These discs prevent bone-to-bone contact in your spine. A collapsed disc occurs when the disc begins to deteriorate, leaving slim to no cushion between vertebrae! While a collapsed disc can be caused by a traumatic injury, it is commonly noticed from natural wear and tear on the body. With that said, a collapsed disc is noticed more in the older population.

A collapsed disc is most likely to occur in two regions of the spine. The two regions are cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back).  The reason a collapsed disc is more likely to occur in these areas of the spine is because both segments manage a lot of weight.  The lumbar and cervical also have a wider range of motion, which can increase the stress level.  The beginning stages of a collapsed disc may not cause too much discomfort, however, a more severe case where it pinches a nerve can make everyday tasks difficult. For this reason, it’s essential to know the symptoms of a collapsed disc so you can identify and treat it before it’s too late!

Below are five symptoms that can be noticed when an individual is suffering from a collapsed disc.

1. Numbness- the body is filled with sensory signals. A collapsed nerve can damage a sensory nerve causing numbness in an arm or leg!
2. Tingling- Much like the numbness, a collapsed nerve can cause tingling arms, legs, fingers or toes!
3. Pain- This is usually the most noticed symptom. It can be noticed right where the disc collapsed and even stem out to arms or legs. Pain worsens over time.
4. Difficulty walking- After a disc collapses, individuals are more stiff. This makes walking difficult.
5. Sharp Pain- Certain movements can cause extremely sharp pain. Since the gap between vertebrae has been narrowed, certain movements now cause the bones to rub or pinch a nerve!

Treatment for a collapsed disc is very beneficial. The sooner you begin treatment with us, the easier it is to help our patients cope with their discomfort.  Even if you’ve been noticing symptoms for a while, it is not too late to start treatment! At Orthopedic Spine Care of Long Island, we are experts with all back issues.  We take pride in our work because we see how beneficial our treatment is for our patients.  Let us help you get through your day pain-free again!