Symptoms and Treatment of Disc Prolapse

The Symptoms and Treatment of Disc Prolapse - A prolapsed disc in the lower back causes low back pain and, if a sciatic nerve root is compressed, sciatica (pain running down the back of the leg from the buttock to the ankle), sometimes accompanied by numbness and tingling.

Low back pain and sciatica are usually aggravated by coughing, sneezing, bending, and sitting for long periods. Prolonged pressure on the sciatic nerve can lead to weakness in the muscles of the leg.

A prolapsed disc in the neck causes neck pain and stiffness. If the disc compresses the root of a nerve that supplies the arm, there will be tingling and weakness in that arm and hand.

In rare cases, pressure is exerted on the spinal cord itself, sometimes leading to paralysis of the legs and loss of bladder or bowel control.

TREATMENT 
Disc prolapse often responds to analgesics, and special exercises (see physiotherapy) are helpful. Patients are usually advised to be as mobile as possible. For resting or sleep, they should lie flat on a firm mattress, with the head supported and the shoulders, hips, and ankles aligned to ease pressure on the spine. If these measures fail and nerve root compression is causing muscle weakness, an operation may relieve the pressure (see discectomy; decompression, spinal canal).