Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc; Lumbar radiculopathy; Cervical radiculopathy; Herniated intervertebral disc; Prolapsed intervertebral disc; Ruptured disc)

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What is Herniated nucleus pulposus?

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A slipped disc, or herniated nucleus pulposus, is a condition in which part or all of the soft, gelatinous central portion of an intervertebral disk (the nucleus pulposus) is forced through a weakened portion of the disk, resulting in back and leg pain caused by nerve root irritation.

Please click here for a diagram of a Herniated nucleus pulposus.

Who gets Herniated nucleus pulposus?

Disk herniation occurs more frequently in middle aged and older men, especially those involved in strenuous physical activity. Other risk factors include any congenital conditions that affect the size of the lumbar spinal canal.

Predisposing Factors

Being of middle age and male are predisposing factors to the condition and, as stated, strenuous physical activity can also bring about the disorder.

Other risk factors include any congenital conditions that affect the size of the lumbar spinal canal. Smoking, increased coughing, prolonged sitting and excessive driving have been associated with increased rates of herniation related to different pressures on the disk.

Progression

Much has been written concerning the process of spinal deterioration or spondylosis, which occurs over a lifetime. Disc deterioration leads to lack of stiffness and diminished stability resulting in episodic pain. The episodic pain is common and may be temporarily severe.

Optimism remains in the long run, as continued deterioration leads to a restabilisation of the spine. Patients in their 50s and 60s customarily are stiffer but have less pain than younger patients in their 30s and 40s who are undergoing initiation of the degenerative cascade. Patients who ask if they have to live with this pain for the rest of their lives can be reassured from this natural history. Furthermore, spontaneous recovery of an acute episode routinely occurs, so any treatment must be demonstrated effective by positively altering the expectation without treatment.

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