One of the most common back problems you can suffer from is a herniated disc. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 2% of the adult population experiences herniated discs annually. How do you know if you have a herniated disc? ANEW Medical and Rehabilitation in Joliet is here to help you understand herniated discs.

What Is a Herniated Disc?

In between your vertebra is a material called a disc. It has a soft interior, covered by a slightly harder shell. When this shell breaks, the soft inner material escapes and presses against nerves, causing pain and discomfort. A herniated disc can happen anywhere along your spine.

Herniated Disc Pain in the Back

Herniated discs are a major cause of sciatica. This is a condition that occurs when the material from the disc presses on the sciatica nerve. As a result, pain shoots from your lower back, down through your buttock, and into your leg. Pain or discomfort caused by sciatica can come and go or be constant. Patients often only experience symptoms in one side of the body.

Herniated Disc Pain in the Neck

Patients who suffer from herniated discs in the cervical spine often experience sharp or burning pain in the back and sides of the neck. This pain can travel down to the shoulder blades, through the arms, and sometimes all the way to your fingers. Neck pain caused by herniated discs will often worsen when you make a sudden movement, such as a cough or a sneeze.

Numbness, Tingling, and Weakness

No matter where the herniated disc is on the spine, the nerves are affected. This interferes with the nerves’ ability to send accurate signals to the brain. Patients suffering from herniated discs often feel tingling, as if the body part is constantly waking from sleep, or feel complete numbness in the affected area. Depending on the severity of your herniated disc, it can make simple tasks like walking impossible challenges.

Visit Us for Chiropractic Treatment for Your Herniated Disc

If you are suffering from the symptoms of a herniated disc and live in or around the Joliet area, contact ANEW Medical and Rehabilitation at (815) 207-7463 to make an appointment today. We are dedicated to providing our patients the care they need to live healthy and pain-free lives.