Herniated nucleus pulposa
This is the medical term that defines slip disks, namely those ruptures of inter vertebral disks of the backbone.
The interruption can occur in different regions of the spine, such as the L4 and L5 level (lumbo-sacral region), as well as cervical C5-7. The cervical region is at the neck and this is why sometimes back pain can be caused by neck and back strains, trauma, congenital malformations of the vertebrae, lifting of heavy items, degenerated disks, or even weakness of ligaments.
At some people, protrusions develop on the “nucleus pulposusâ€, generating pain, due to the fact that the nerves along the spinal cord are touched. If the condition persists for a longer time, the patient can lose control of either hands or legs, depending on the spinal region where these protrusions appeared.
The lower back region, also called the Lumbrosacral region, if affected, may cause the pain to extend to the buttocks and to the legs. Weakness, numbness and tingling are amongst the symptoms patients will feel.
The upper back region is called the Cervical. Damages in this region will result in neck stiffness, rigidity, weakness, and a tingling sensation in hands.
When medics investigate back pain, they will run some tests in order to set a precise diagnostic. Diagnostics may become clear from tendon reflex, CSF, EMG, myelograms, XRays, or Laséque signs. The CSF determines protein increases, while EMG shows whether the spinal nerves are involved. The space between disks is tested with X-Rays. Tendon reflexes are also very important, because if they are missing, it shows how affected the nerves are.
The myelogram show eventual signs of spinal cord compression. And the poor patient will have to endure all these tests only to find out that his pain won’t go away without suergery.