Disk Surgery: Relieving The Pain
Persistent pain in your low back or leg caused by spinal disk problems can be frustrating. It limits your ability to move and do the things you enjoy. To manage your low back (lumbar) problem, you may have followed your doctor's conservative treatment plan?rest, medication, physical therapy, and exercise. But, despite your best efforts, the pain won't go away. Surgery can help relieve your pain by treating your disk problem.
Your Lower Back
Knowing about your lumbar spine makes it easier to understand your low back problem. The bony vertebrae, which encircle and protect your spinal cord, are separated by shock-absorbing disks. The disks give your spine the flexibility to move. Nerves branching from the spinal cord pass through openings in the vertebrae to other parts of your body. Several of these nerves join at the base of the spine to form the sciatic nerve, which runs down your leg.
Healthy Disk
Each disk has a spongy center (nucleus) surrounded by tough outer rings. Wear and tear, poor posture, and incorrect body movements can weaken the disk.
Disk Problems: Pressure on the Nerve
When a disk weakens, the outer rings may not be able to contain the material in the center of the disk. This material may bulge against or squeeze through a tear in the outer rings and press against a nerve, leading to pain in your lower back and leg.
- A herniated disk occurs when disk material bulges against the outer rings. The bulging disk may press against one of the nearby nerves passing through the vertebra.
- A free fragment occurs when disk material separates from and moves outside of the outer rings through a tear. The fragment may irritate a nearby nerve.
- Sciatica occurs when a damaged disk presses on one of the nerves forming the sciatic nerve. You may feel sharp, shooting pain that runs from your buttock down your leg.
Your Medical Evaluation
A medical evaluation helps your doctor diagnose your disk problem and determine which surgery is most beneficial for you.
Medical History
Your medical history helps your doctor understand your back pain and how your lifestyle may contribute to it. Your doctor will ask you where you have pain and what makes the pain better or worse.
Physical Examination
Your doctor examines your spine and legs to pinpoint the source of pain. Your doctor also does simple tests for flexibility and muscle strength, and checks for pain or numbness in your legs or feet.
Diagnostic Tests
To confirm your diagnosis and locate the source of your pain, your doctor may order certain tests.
- X-rays show the bones (vertebrae) of the spine. Vertebrae that are too close together could indicate a degenerated or possibly herniated disk.
- Myelograms are special x-rays of the lumbar spine. To take a myelogram, a special dye that highlights your nerves is used.
- CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are special imaging tests. They confirm which disk is damaged.
- EMGs (electromyograms) measure the electrical activity of your muscles' contractions. They can show muscle or nerve damage.
This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem.
© 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000 The StayWell Company, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030. www.krames.com 800-333-3032. All right reserved.
This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem. © 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000 The StayWell Company, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030. www.krames.com 800-333-3032. All right reserved.