Are you experiencing muscle spasms or weakness, tingling or numbness in the leg/feet, pain radiating down shoulders/arms/hands, or down the buttock, hip, leg, and feet (sciatica)? You likely have a herniated disc. Disc herniation Rego Park mainly affects the lower back but can also develop in the neck or mid-back. Disc herniation is prevalent in older adults (50 years and older), obese individuals, sedentary people, and occupations requiring repeated spine movement.
Herniated disc symptoms are dependent on the severity and location. In some cases, the symptoms may be mild or moderate, which may see you avoiding or postponing medical attention. However, it is worth noting that most herniated discs do not get well on their own, and the chances of worsening and resulting in moderate or severe symptoms are high. Moreover, if left untreated, a herniated disc can lead to health complications, including:
Chronic pain
Back pain is a common problem, and it mostly goes untreated. Many people have a logical yet not necessarily correct back pain diagnosis. You may assume that it is from the lengthy sitting or standing or some heavy lifting you did over the weekend. This means you are likely to resort to over-the-counter pain relievers. The measure can subside the pain and let you go about your day but leave the main culprit untreated.
Pain from a herniated disc worsens over time and can become debilitating to the extent that you can hardly focus or manage your daily living activities. It can become chronic pain, which impacts other aspects, including causing poor sleep quality, increased stress and anxiety, and may result in drug dependence. Such chronic pain complications can turn your life inside out, which can be prevented with effective herniated disc treatment.
Nerve damage
Herniated discs put excess stress on the nerves. Sciatica is among the examples of herniated disc impacts on the nervous system. When a herniated disc presses the sciatic nerve, you experience pain shooting along the nerve, starting from the lower back and down the legs. When left untreated, you can experience more than pain. Nerves can be wholly damaged, resulting in concerns like loss of sensation. Saddle anesthesia is among the nerve damage examples, a progressive condition that impacts sensation in the saddle area (back of the legs, inner thighs, and around the rectum).
Reduced range of motion
Chronic pain alone can impact your motion range. This worsens with other herniated disc complications, including nerve damage. The pain and loss of sensation can significantly impact your mobility and overall range of motion. You may lose your ability to grasp or walk as the symptoms worsen. Such concerns affect other areas as your life’s quality diminishes.
Loss of bladder control
A herniated disc can press on the cauda equina and cause nerve damage. This can result in cauda equina syndrome, which impacts your bladder control ability. You may develop incontinence, meaning you involuntary leak urine. You can also have difficulty urinating even when your bladder is full.
A herniated disc may not initially cause worrying symptoms, but if left untreated, it can worsen and cause more than just pain, weakness, numbness, and fatigue. It can result in severe complications affecting your overall health and quality of life. Visit Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care today for more or herniated disc diagnosis, care, and treatment options.
