Intervertebral Disc

The intervertebral disc is a fibrocartilage in between two vertebrae. These are the spongy cushions that separate the bones of the spine (vertebrae). 

The symptoms include:

• back pain
• increased back pain when repetitively bending or with prolonged sitting
• increased back pain with coughing, sneezing, laughing, or straining
• pain, numbness, or pins-and-needles radiating into an arm or leg if a disc is impinging on a nearby nerve.

Risk factors include:

• obesity
• lack of fitness
• cigarette smoking
• older age
• poor posture
• Lifting heavy loads.
• constant bending and lifting activities

Common disc-related problems include:

• Disc strains and sprains
• Degenerative disc disease 
• Protruded discs (also called herniated/prolapsed/extruded/slipped discs). 

A spine specialist focuses mainly on treating spine conditions, but an Orthopaedic also can be consulted.

1. MedantaTheMedicity, Gurugram.
2. Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai.
3. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, 
4. Sakra Hospital
5. Gleneagles Global Hospital, Bengaluru
6. BLK Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi.
7. Indian Spinal Injuries Center, New Delhi.
8. Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru

A herniated disc occurs when the intervertebral disc's outer fibers (the annulus) are damaged and the soft inner material of the nucleus pulposus ruptures out of its normal space. If the annulus tears near the spinal canal, the nucleus pulposus material can push into the spinal canal.

Long standing stressful improper postures put pressures on the disc leading to tear in the annulus fibrosus(outer covering of the NP) which pushed the nucleus pulposus out. This NP presses onto the nerve giving rise to symptoms. Aging leads to the disc becoming less flexible which also leads to a tear in the annulus fibrosus.

• A slipped disc cannot be prevented but certain steps to protect the spine include:
• Avoid lifting heavy weight bending from the back
• Bend the knee keeping the weight close to the body and then lift weight.
• exercise the core muscles and leg muscles.
• avoid sitting too long
• do not assume improper postures
• Do exercises to strengthen the muscles in your back, legs, and abdomen.

Discectomy is the removal of the herniated disc, that was pressing on a nerve giving rise to pain and other related symptoms.

The patient can go home the same day or the next day post operation.