Health

Conditions | Herniated Disk

Herniated disks, sometimes called slipped or ruptured disks, are a frequent cause of back pain. They often cause not only pain, but also numbness or weakness in the back, legs or arms.

Learn More About Herniated Disks

Need to know more about how mysofacial pain will affect you or someone you care for? Learn all the basics of a herniated disk and what it does:

     » Introduction to Herniated Disk
     » The Signs of a Herniated Disk
     » What Causes a Herniated Disk?
     » Treatments for Herniated Disks

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Complications

by MayoClinic.com

While it can be painful, a herniated disk isn't typically a medical emergency. Rarely, disk herniation can cause cauda equina syndrome, which is the compression of spinal nerve roots. Relieving the pressure that causes cauda equina syndrome often requires emergency surgery, because it can cause permanent paralysis if it's not corrected. The following signs and symptoms, which suggest cauda equina syndrome, warrant a trip to the emergency room:

Significant or increasing pain, numbness or weakness spreading to one or both legs
Bladder or bowel dysfunction, including incontinence or difficulty urinating even with a full bladder
Progressive loss of sensation in areas that would touch a saddle (inner thighs, back of legs and area around the rectum)
Loss of movement

2006-12-20

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