Herniated Disk and Neuropathy in Feet

What is a Herniated Disk?

Small discs, which are round and flat with a tough outer shell surrounding a jelly-like material, cushion the bones of the spine. When discs are healthy, they behave as shock absorbers for the spine, keeping the spine flexible. When damage to the disks occur due to injury, normal wear and tear, or disease, the discs may bulge or rupture, forming a herniated disc (occasionally called a slipped or ruptured disc).

Relationship Between Herniated Disk and Neuropathy in Feet

A herniated disk by itself isn't generally painful (except for the initial injury). What does cause pain is the pressure that the ruptured disk places on the spinal cord and on nerve roots. The pain you experience depends on which nerves are affected. For example, if the pressure is against a nerve that leads to your feet, you may feel pain or numbness in your feet. Some people can have a herniated disk and never have any symptoms at all. Often herniated disks will repair themselves over a period of time and the pain will go away. Having poor balance and numbess in the extremities can lead to accidental injury There are many connections between Herniated Disk and Neuropathy in Feet

Possible Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the location of the herniated disc. If the herniated disc is not pressing on a nerve, there may be a low backache or no symptoms at all. If the disc is pressing on a nerve, the person may suffer from pain or numbness in the area of the body that the nerve carries messages to. When the herniated disk is located in the neck, the person may experience pain or numbness in the chest, arms, or shoulders. Sciatica may occur if the herniated disk is located in the lower back. This will cause leg pain and other nerve-related symptoms such as such as weakness, numbness or tingling in one leg.

Other symptoms of a herniated disc may include severe deep muscle pain and muscle spasms.

Causes

Herniated discs are caused by aging, degeneration of the disc, or injury to the spine. Degeneration of the disk may develop as part of the normal again process. After age 30, the spinal disk begins to lose its fluid content and becomes less springy and more easily injured. Degeneration of the disk may also result from tiny tears or cracks in the outer shell of the disc. The jelly-like material inside the disc may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule, which causes the disc to bulge, break open or break into sections.

Injury to the spine can occur from due to a heavy strain on incrased pressure to the lower back. Occasionally sudden twisting movement will force some of the jelly-like material inside the disc out through the disc's outer shell. Injury can also be caused by repetitive activities that may stress the lower back (such as poor lifting habits).

Treatment

The main goals of treatment are to relieve pain, weakness or numbness in the leg and lower back. Another important goal is to prevent further injury by teaching the patient techniques and exercises for care of the back.

More than 90% of patients who have a herniated disc will improve within six months after nonsurgical treatment. For this reason, nonsurgical treatment is usually tried before surgery is considered.

Nonsurgical treatment options are:

• Bed rest, followed by a gradual increase in activity
• Medication to control pain and inflammation
• Exercises recommended by the doctor or physical therapist to help reduce pain and strengthen the muscles that support the back

In some cases, herniated discs heal on their own. They do this when the body absorbs fragments or tissue from the herniated disk. Surgery is done in less than 10% of all herniated disk cases. Surgery may be considered in cases where people have progressive nerve damage or severe weakness or numbness. It may also be considered for those whose pain has not been relieved by other methods.