What is herniated disk? It is a medical condition wherein the cushion which is made of a jelly-like substance between each spinal vertebra is compressed out from its normal position. With this condition, the disk is herniated or moved out of place, the spinal nerves are compressed causing weakness, and pain to the back and lower legs.
How will this happen? When the disk ruptures, it will come out from its normal place. The spinal nerves and spinal cord are then compressed. Since there is the presence of disk, there will no longer be a cushion between the spinal cord and spinal nerves. There is no space for them, thus will rub each other and compression occurs. This will cause great pain, numbness and weakness.
Pain can be mild tingling, dull ache, burning or pulsating sensation. It can also be numb (no sensation). If the pain is severe, it may make one unable to move. The pain often occurs on one side of the body that starts in a slow pace. It may get more painful after standing or sitting, at night, when sneezing, coughing and laughing, and when walking backwards.
The symptoms of herniated disk are:
- Electric shock pain
- Tingling and numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Bowel and bladder problems
To get rid of the pain, herniated disk surgery is indicated. After a series of test done by the doctor, the diagnosis of herniated disk needs surgery to relieve the pain that often makes the patient incapacitated from this culprit.
Herniated disk surgery is also called discectomy or open discectomy. The purpose of the surgery is to alleviate and relieve the pain felt by the patient. Since the pain makes the patient incapacitated, this surgery will remove the disk that caused the compression on the nerve. The patient is under general anesthesia and takes about an hour to perform by the surgeon with the patient’s face lying down and the back pointing upwards.
As mentioned above, herniated disk surgery is done to relieve the pain felt to bring back normal movement and to allow the patient get back to his usual daily routine. It is indicated to those who have history of persistent leg pain without alleviation of the pain despite of the nonsurgical treatment for the least time of four weeks and to those who have weakness and limitation to activities of daily living. It is also indicated to those who have weakness, loss of motion and abnormal sensitivity after a physical examination, and after MRI, CT Scan or myelogram, it is found that one has a herniated disk that needs to be treated surgically.
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