If the symptoms do not settle with reasonable conservative treatment, intervention may be recommended. A combination of anti-inflammatory and paracetamol-based medications is usually recommended, together with a program of physiotherapy, and sometimes hydrotherapy and pilates. Unless there is evidence of significant spinal cord or nerve root compression or impaired function, acute disc prolapses are almost always treated conservatively in the first instance. Typically this process takes 6-8 weeks, but may take longer. TREATMENTДЄt least 80 or 90% of disc prolapses settle by themselves and their symptoms almost disappear. Other investigations that your neurosurgeon or spinal surgeon may organise include a CT myelogram (where dye is injected into the spinal canal and a CT performed), and a nerve sheath injection with local anaesthetic (this may confirm exactly which nerve is generating your symptoms. CT scans will usually reveal significant disc prolapses, however these are often not the most reliable tests.ДЄn MRI scan is the most accurate test, however small prolapses may be missed, particularly as most of these investigations are performed while you are lying flat вЂ“ this places less pressure on the disc and may show less bulging than when you are sitting. Such symptoms may indicate an emergency, and require immediate investigation and/or surgery.ДЄ definite diagnosis is made by radiological investigations. These questions may appear irrelevant, but they are important to ensure there is no significant pressure from the herniated disc on the spinal cord or nerves to the bowels and bladder. Has there been any weight loss, fevers, or other illnesses recently?ДЇinally, your neurosurgeon or spinal surgeon will be interested in knowing if you have problems walking, or when you have to empty your bladder or open your bowels.Is there any numbness or pins and needles?.Did you have an injury before the pain started?.The main questions your neurosurgeon or spinal surgeon will be interested in are: This is often completed by a relevant physical examination. Weakness involving one or both arms or legsДiagnosing a prolapsed disc begins with your specialist taking a complete history of the problem.symptoms helps determine your diagnosis.In other words, the precise location of the The location of these symptoms depends upon which nerve(s) has been affected.Pain running down one or both arms or legs.Pain behind the shoulder blade(s) or in the buttock(s).Numbness, pins and needles, or tingling in one or both arms or legs.

In severe cases, loss of control of bladder and/or bowels, numbness in the genital area, and impotence (in men).The main symptoms of a prolapsed disc include: The symptoms of a herniated or prolapsed disc may not include back or neck pain in some individuals, although such pain is common. Once ruptured, the core material of the disc can cause a chemical irritation of the nerve roots and result in inflammation of the nerves.Д«oth the pressure on the nerve root and the chemical irritation can lead to problems with how the nerve root works. The disc material that has ruptured into the spinal canal or intervertebral foramen can put pressure on the nerves (or spinal cord). A prolapsed disc can cause problems in two ways: Less commonly, they occur in the thoracic spine (mid-back region). Intervertebral disc prolapses most commonly occur in the lumbar spine (lower back) and cervical spine (neck). Then at some point you may lift something, twist or bend in a manner which puts enough pressure on the disc to cause it to rupture through its weakened outer fibres. Often there is no obvious reason why such a process should have occurred. This damage may occur with aging, hereditary factors, work- or recreation-related activities. This is usually due to repetitive minor injuries which build up over time. Intervertebral discs can also rupture as a result of weakening outer fibres of the disk. If you bend and attempt to lift an object which is too heavy, this force may cause a disc to rupture. Bending forwards places substantial stress on the intervertebral discs.If the force is strong enough, either a vertebra (bone) can fracture, or an intervertebral disc can rupture. This can transmit significant force across the spine. Falling from a significant height and landing on your buttocks.CAUSES Intervertebral discs can prolapse suddenly because of excessive pressure.

Buldged spine disk xray