Herniated Disc
A spinal disk is found between the bones of the spine (vertebrae). It has a gelatinous inner portion and a band-like outer portion holding it together. You can think of it as a jelly doughnut acting as a shock absorber. As we get older, the inner portion dries out and doesn?t absorb shocks as well. This leads to bulging of the outer portion which may press against a nerve and possibly cause pain. Sometimes the outer portion can crack, allowing the jelly-like portion to herniate out and press against a nerve, also possibly causing pain.
Depending on where this occurs, it can lead to pain and numbness radiating down the legs and feet or shoulders, arms and hands. More worrisome is when this becomes associated with weakness of the arms or legs.
