26/08/2023
A herniated disc is a problem with one of the elastic cushions (discs) between some of the bones (vertebrae) that are stacked together to make up the spine.
A disc has a soft, jelly-like center (nucleus pulposus) surrounded by a hard, rubbery exterior (annulus fibrosus). A herniated disc, sometimes called a slipped disc or a ruptured disc, occurs when some of the nucleus pulposus bulges out through a tear in the annulus.
A herniated disc can occur anywhere in the spine, but is most common in the lower back. Depending on where the herniated disc is, it may cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the arm or leg.
Most people with herniated discs do not have any symptoms. For people with symptoms, symptoms usually improve over time. This problem usually resolves without surgery.
