Patients from 105+ countries have trusted us
Join hundreds of happy patients who choose the right treatment and care.
Get A Quote
When one of your spine's soft, rubbery cushions between the bones is injured, it might result in a herniated disc. We refer to these cushions as discs. They are positioned between the bones that form the spine. We refer to these bones as vertebrae.
Each disc contains a harder outer layer known as the annulus and a soft, jelly-like centre known as the nucleus. When a portion of the soft centre pushes out via a rip in the outer layer, it results in a herniated disc. This could also be referred to as a slipped or ruptured disc.
A herniated disc can occur in any area of the spine, but it tends to mainly occur in the lower back. With a herniated disc, one may experience numbness or pain in an arm or leg, depending on the location of the affected disc.
There are some individuals with a herniated disc who remain asymptomatic. If you develop symptoms due to this condition, they generally improve with time. In most cases, treatment of a herniated disc does not require surgery.
What is a Slipped Disc?
The term "Slipped Disc" describes the medical condition "Herniated Disc". Here's how the disease works.
The spine consists of bones called vertebrae, and between these bones are intervertebral discs. Discs serve like cushions and allow the spine to maintain its flexibility and structure. Each disc is made of a hard outer layer (known as annulus fibrosus) and a soft inner layer (known as nucleus pulposus).
The term slipped disc or herniated disc refers to the spilling of the inner contents of the disc through a break or crack in the outer layer. This could lead to the inner contents of the disc putting pressure on nearby nerve endings, resulting in numbness, pain, and weakness.
There are several kinds of slipped disc, based on how the disc gets damaged. They include:
Protrusion
This is the most common form of slipped disc. This kind happens where there is disc protrusion but without rupture of the disc's outer fibrous ring called the annulus fibrosis. Here, the bulge occurs throughout a large area of the disc without breaking through the disc wall.
Extrusion
This type occurs where the material that forms the nucleus of the disc breaks through the annulus fibrosis but remains in the disc. The difference between extrusion and protrusion lies in the nature and position of the herniated material.
Sequestration
This type occurs when the nucleus material not only breaks through the annulus fibrosis but also gets separated from the disc. It then floats into the spinal canal. This kind may cause serious pain due to nerve compression.
Bulging Disc
This type is often confused with a herniated disc but is somewhat different from the latter. The difference is that in a bulging disc, the disc bulges out at all points along the circumference of the disc.
Therapy for a slipped or herniated disc varies according to symptoms and other factors related to the situation. The most common approaches include:
Conservative Treatment
Resting: Proper relaxation helps ease the pain and improve the healing process.
Painkillers: You can take either prescription or over-the-counter pain-relieving medicine. NSAIDs are usually given as a prescription.
Muscle Relaxants: This medication can help relieve muscle spasms associated with a slipped disc.
Physical Therapy
Exercise Programs: A specific program with exercises and stretching can make core muscles stronger and improve flexibility of the spine, thus reducing the risk of the problem occurring in the future.
Manual Therapy: Physical therapist uses hands-on techniques in order to relieve pain and improve mobility.
Heat and Ice Therapy
Use of heat or ice on the painful area is effective in reducing inflammation and pain. Many people find it useful to alternate between application of heat and ice.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Injections of steroid medications into the area around the injured nerve may help relieve pain and inflammation temporarily.
Medication Management
In cases of severe pain, a doctor may prescribe strong pain medications or muscle relaxants.
Modification of Activity
Adhering to the restriction of activity that makes symptoms worse, specifically activities that involve heavy work or prolonged periods of sitting, and staying off the problematic area is helpful in recovery.
Surgery
In situations in which conservative treatment methods do not help, surgery may be recommended. Surgical methods can include discectomy (removal of a portion or full part of the disc) or spinal fusion to provide stability of the spine.
Prices are indicative only. The hospital sets the final cost after reviewing the patient's case.
The cost of slip disc treatment in India varies between 4500 USD and 10,000 USD. The cost of slip disc treatment can be quite variable depending on the hospital, the technology that is employed, the surgical procedure employed, and the skill of the doctor.
Symptoms of a slipped disc, also known as a herniated disc, may vary based on where the injury occurs and how much pressure there is on the nerves. Typical symptoms include:
Pain: Pain is one of the most common symptoms and can vary in intensity. It may be localised to where the herniation occurs or radiate to other areas served by the affected nerve. For instance, a herniated disc in the lower back may cause pain to radiate down into the legs (sciatica), and a herniated disc in the neck may cause arm pain.
Numbness and Tingling: Compression of the nerves causes numbness or tingling in the area where the affected nerve supplies its branches.
Muscle Weakness: When a disc herniates, it can put pressure on nerves that control muscles, resulting in weakness in an arm or leg depending on where the disc herniation occurs.
Changes in Reflexes: Reflexes that rely on the affected nerves may be less effective or overactive.
Difficulty Walking or Standing: Serious cases of herniated disc may lead to problems with walking or standing.
Bowel and Bladder Issues: In rare and severe cases of spinal cord compression in the lower back, patients may experience bowel and bladder issues as a result of the injury.
Though several individuals suffering from a herniated disc find relief from non-surgical methods, this issue can cause problems if untreated or if cause for concern exists. These problems can be as follows:
Constant pain: There might be chronic pain in some people in spite of having received treatment, which can substantially limit various aspects of their lives.
Nerve injury: Continuous pressure on spinal nerves leads to possible nerve injury and injury possibilities, which affects their functions (for instance, there may be weakness, numbness, or loss of reflexes).
Loss of function: In addition to the impact on nerves, prolonged pressure could affect not only the ability to feel but the ability to move as well.
Problems Related to Bowels or Bladder: It is uncommon, but in difficult situations the spinal cord in the lower back can be compressed, leading to the inability to control bowels or bladder and hence the need for immediate help from a doctor.
Cauda Equina syndrome: This is a rare yet serious complication when the roots of the cauda equina are compressed. This causes serious symptoms like pain in the lower back, sciatica symptoms, paralysis and problems with the bladder or bowels.
Appearance of Recurrent Problems: Some people may have repeated instances of disc herniation due to failure to control the predisposing risk factors.
Join hundreds of happy patients who choose the right treatment and care.
Get A Quote