What Is a herniated Disc?

The disk serves as a shock absorber and lives between two vertebra of the spine. It is a dynamic element allowing us to move, bend and twist. While our disks are able to adjust and adapt to extreme ranges of motion, they are also vulnerable to injury. This is especially the case in two main situations: 1) where the force of the motion is more than the disk can absorb or 2) the disk is “weakened” by degenerative changes.

What causes a herniated disc?

A herniated disk can occur abruptly (“I bent over, and I felt a pop, followed by excruciating pain.”) or gradually over time (“I’m can’t recall anything I did, it just started slowly.”). The good news is, the natural history of disk herniations is that they spontaneously resolve without aggressive treatment, given time, relative rest, physical therapy and pain management.

If you’re ready to take back your life and relieve the pain associated with a herniated disc, contact Austin Spine Health for an appointment.