The herniated disc is a protruding protrusion that forms in the discs of the spine as a result of sudden or repetitive efforts. The nerves that leave the spinal column and later cross the arms and legs, can be compressed when there are herniated discs.

Discal hernias located at the cervical level tend to produce pain in the neck, shoulders, and arm that is on the side of the hernia. If it is located in the lumbar region, the pain would manifest itself affecting the lumbo-sciatic nerve, causing pain in the lower back that spreads to the leg on the side of the hernia.

Intervertebral disc disease affects 90% of the world population, manifesting itself as a lumbar or cervical pain crisis, which is the second leading cause of medical consultation. It also corresponds to the first cause of disability in people under 45 years. About 1% of the population has chronic disability for this reason.

The involvement of the intervertebral disc occurs as follows

Cervical:

• Two out of three cervical hernias affect the intervertebral disc between C6 and C7.
• 20% affects the intervertebral disc between C5-C6,
• 10% affects the intervertebral disc between C7-T1
• 2%. affects the intervertebral disc between C4-L5

Lumbar:

• 45-50% affects the intervertebral disc between L5-S1
• 40-45% affects the intervertebral disc between L4-L5
• 5% affects the intervertebral disc between L3-L4.
• Disc herniation to other lumbar levels is rare.

It happens that when at any level of the spine the hernia has a lateral location inside the hole where the nerve comes out, the compressed nerve root will be the one that is above the hernia, this happens in 3-10% of the cases.

Why is a disc herniated?

1. Age: As the years pass, the discs flatten and lose elasticity. After age 20, deterioration can be seen as small cracks in the intervertebral discs.
2. Wear by trauma of the fibrous tissue (ring) that surrounds the soft part of the disc (nucleus pulposus), this includes the MADE EFFORTS as when loading weight when lifting a large bottle of water, lifting weights, hyperextension exercises as yoga.
3. Overweight.

Appearance Symptoms

The location of the pain depends on the affected disc, and if the hernia compresses the nerve root below or above it or if it presses the spinal cord.

Note that the symptoms help the diagnosis and decide the type of treatment, however, all the symptoms related to the compression of a particular nerve root may not be present, and even then there may be symptoms related to the compression of multiple nerve roots.