Slipped disc
Overview
A slipped disc, also called a prolapsed or herniated disc, is when a soft cushion of tissue between the bones in your spine bulges outwards. It's painful if it presses on nerves. It usually gets better slowly with rest, gentle exercise and painkillers.
Symptoms
A slipped disc can cause: lower back painnumbness or tingling in your shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs or feetneck painproblems bending or straightening your backmuscle weaknesspain in the buttocks, hips or legs if the disc is pressing on the sciatic nerve (sciatica) Not all slipped discs cause symptoms. Many people will never know they have slipped a disc.
Causes
Sometimes back pain may be a result of an injury such as asprain or strain, but often there's no obvious reason. Back painis rarely caused by anything serious.
Treatment
A GP might prescribe a stronger painkiller, a steroid injection or a muscle relaxant to use in the short term for a slipped disc. If your symptoms do not get better, a GP might recommend further tests, like an MRI scan. They might also refer you to a physiotherapist. Physiotherapy from the NHS might not be available everywhere and waiting times can be long. You can also get it privately. There's some evidence that manual therapies, like osteopathy, can help ease lower back pain. You'll usually have to pay for this treatment privately. If you have a slipped disc, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP. To find out if there are any services in your area: ask the receptionist staff at your GP surgerycheck your GP surgery's websitecontact your local integrated care board (ICB) –find your local ICBsearch online for NHS treatment for a slipped disc near you
Prevention
There are some things you can do to help prevent a slipped disc. keep active – take regular exercise keep active – take regular exercise use a safe technique when lifting heavy objects use a safe technique when lifting heavy objects do not smoke – nicotine weakens the disc tissue in the spine do not smoke – nicotine weakens the disc tissue in the spine
When to see a doctor
See GP if: pain severe prevents normal activities.