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The human spine is an incredibly complex structure that holds our bodies up and allows us to move around. However, the spine is also a common source of low back and neck pain.
Spine pain can occur anywhere along the spine, but it usually happens in the low back (lumbar spine) or neck (cervical spine).
Medical studies have shown that there’s up to an 84% chance (or 4 in 5 chance) that any individual will have low back pain sometime in their lifetime. Thus, back pain is one of the most common reasons why people see a doctor.
As a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, I help many people whose lives and activities are disrupted by back pain. As I explain to them, back pain can be caused by problems with different structures of the spine, including muscles, nerves, bones, and discs. Some of the more common disc problems are degenerated, bulging or herniated discs. It’s easy to confuse these related terms, but they have distinct differences.
I’ll describe what I typically share with my patients about these disc problems. But first, it helps to know a little more about the discs in your spine.
In between the 24 bones (vertebrae) in your spine are rubbery cushions called discs which act as shock absorbers to cushion the spine and help hold it together. Each disc has a tough rubbery shell and a soft, jelly-like center.
Over time, discs can become drier and less springy. We call this process degenerated disc disease. This process often happens as the result of natural, age-related wear and tear (degeneration) of the spine.
Sudden injuries, such as a fall, can also damage discs. These injuries can set the stage for the following disc diseases:
The symptoms a person may experience depend, in part, on the location of the degenerated, bulging, or herniated disc.
If the damaged disc is in the lower back, you can have back pain as well as pain that travels down one or both of your lower limbs, which may also feel numb, tingly, or weak.
A damaged disc in your neck can cause neck pain and pain that travels down one or both of your upper limbs, which may also feel numb, tingly, or weak.
If a bulging or herniated disc presses on your spinal cord, it can cause more severe symptoms, such as leg weakness, balance problems, numbness in your genital and anal areas, or even loss of bladder or bowel control. If you have any of these serious symptoms, you should seek medical attention right away.
Back pain often gets better on its own with appropriate recommendations for self-care — such as activity modifications — including avoiding movements that aggravate the pain. The healing can take days to weeks, but many of my patients have been living with back or neck pain for a lot longer.
We use a team approach for helping people with back pain here at the Temple Universal Back Pain Program. Depending on a patient’s needs, the team may include orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, interventional radiologists, anesthesia pain management specialists, physical therapists and physiatrists (physicians specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation).
Our work starts with assessing the source of the patient’s back pain. We ask them to describe their pain, a timeline of their pain experience, and its impact on their daily life. We then conduct a physical exam to help us find the source of the pain. The examination sometimes helps us determine if the pain is related to a sore muscle or a nerve problem.
We may also order imaging tests as part of the diagnostic process. These include:
We usually try nonsurgical options to relieve back pain first. For instance:
During a physical therapy session, can learn various exercises that can help strengthen your core muscles that support your back, and stretching exercises for your muscles, thereby relieving pain.
Steroid medications injected around the irritated nerve near a disc can reduce inflammation, which helps relieve pain.
Evaluation by a surgeon may be needed if conservative therapies are not enough to relieve pain or if some of the more severe symptoms I previously mentioned (such as weakness, numbness or bladder or bowel incontinence) are present.
There are different types of surgery to treat disc diseases. At Temple, we offer advanced minimally invasive and traditional surgical techniques.
For example, options for surgery include:
Our team of experts is here to help people find relief from back pain. Our care is aimed at restoring their independence and quality of life by helping them return to a more active and enjoyable lifestyle.
If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of a back problem, schedule an appointment with a member of Temple’s spine team or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) today.
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Dr. Wu is the Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Professor of Clinical Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Dr. Wu is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Among his other honors are an Award for Higher Level of Care and Patient Satisfaction from Geisinger HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital; an Award for Distinguished Service, Leadership; and an Award for Outstanding Contribution as President of the New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
