A herniated disc is also referred to as a slipped or bulged disc. It is a condition which occurs anywhere along the human spine but mostly in the lower back. This is among the main reasons why people experience pain in the lower back despite their ages. A herniated disc condition is not associated with people of a certain age or even gender. This means that anyone can get a herniated disc.
One good thing about a herniated disk is that it can be very painful, but one recovers within several weeks or months even without surgical treatment for a herniated disc. Also, a herniated disc is a condition that you can reduce the chances of getting it in your life. Therefore, it is important for everyone to know the major causes of a herniated disc so that you can know how to prevent it and what to do in case you begin experiencing these symptoms.
The causes of a herniated disc
A herniated disc has many causes, but some of them are minor causes, each of the factors that cause a herniated disc makes the cushion which is found between your vertebrae, bulge, or rupture making the disc to be herniated. Some of the causes of the herniated disc are discussed in this article.
The first and the major cause of the herniated disc are the wearing and tearing on your spine. This is something that you cannot control. The wearing and tearing of the spine are commonly referred to as degeneration. This is something that occurs with time since the disc struggles so much to ensure that people are moving and therefore, this can result in degeneration. When your spine degenerates, you are likely to experience so much pain in your lower back. It also becomes very hard for us to move since the backs are meant to carry and also distribute our weight while the discs absorb the shock that results due to movement. This is why people who have this condition do not move or even walk.
The other cause of a herniated disc can be from an injury. There are different types of injuries that you can find yourself in and mainly an injury due to a car accident can be the major cause of the condition. Also, if you get injured when lifting heavy weights incorrectly, you cannot escape this condition.
A herniated disc can also be caused by a combination of injury and degeneration. Imagine your discs have worn out and you are involved in an accident. Therefore at times, you may think that because you are not involved in an accident, you cannot get the herniated discs, but you may not know the condition of your discs.
How to prevent a herniated disc?
Preventing a herniated disc can be very hard. For instance, you will not stop making any movements because you do not want the discs to absorb the shock that is caused by the movements. However, there are several things that you can do to reduce the risks of getting this disc condition. Some of these ways include:
- Using proper techniques when it comes to lifting
- Ensuring that you maintain a healthy weight since excess weight always puts more pressure on your lower back which can lead to this condition.
- Practising good postures especially when standing, sleeping, sitting and walking
- Stretching often when you sit for long.
- Exercising regularly to ensure the muscles of the legs, back, and stomach are strong.
- Eating a balanced diet and quitting smoking.
