Frequently Asked Questions
- How do disc injuries cause back pain?
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Dr. Theodore A Belanger
Charlotte, NCMost patients with disc injuries complain of a combination of leg and back pain. The pain in the leg is from nerve compression and inflammation in the back, while back pain may be related to a number of causes, including nerve compression and inflammation as well as disc and ligament fiber stimulation or muscle spasm.
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Dr. Eung-Jun Cha
Bedford, INThe disc could be protruding and causing pain to radiate down either leg.
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Dr. Jorge E Isaza
Baton Rouge, LADisc injuries can cause back pain by causing compression of the nerve roots or irritation of the nerve roots by an inflammatory reaction, which produces swelling and pain on the surrounding nerves or tissues. Additionally, disc injuries can cause pain by the rupture of the ligament that contains the disc, which is called the annulus. Innervation by sensory fibers and a tear of these ligaments can produce severe pain. The disc material also produces severe irritation in the surrounding tissues, which has been isolated since the embryo started forming. Leaking of this material causes a reaction similar to that of a foreign body, which, in turn, causes irritation of the tissues.
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Dr. Mark Rosenthal
Baltimore, MDIf a disc is injured, there is damage to the surrounding fibers that make up the support structure of the disc. These fibers have nerve endings, and the damage is felt as pain. This is very similar to a sprained ankle. In addition, there are chemicals contained within the disc that can cause inflammation. When a disc is damaged, these chemicals can leak out and cause pain.
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Dr. Sebastian Lattuga
Rockville Centre, NYThe intervertebral disc is a gelatinous-like filled structure, which acts as a cushion to separate the vertebrae of the spine. The intervertebral disc has a tough outer cover called the annulus. Sometimes the integrity of the annulus is disrupted allowing for the change in the shape or contour of the disc. The disc material can protrude away from the normal contour of the disc and cause pain.
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Dr. Dennis G Crandall
Mesa, AZA disk has layers similar to an onion. The outer layers are full of pain-sensitive nerve fibers, much more than the inside of the disk. When a disk is injured, the layers tear. Pain occurs from the nerves as well as from the inflammation as the body tries to heal the injury.
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Dr. Sean Salehi
Chicago, ILNerve endings around a degenerated disc can cause back pain.
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Dr. Reginald Knight
Seattle, WACauses of back pain following disc injury are complex. A combination of nerve fibers within the disc and muscle spasm in the paraspinal area is the most common source of pain.
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Dr. Robert S Pashman
Los Angeles, CAWhen the disc bulges or herniates into the spinal canal, the nerves in that area can become inflamed or agitated, creating both back pain and pain in the area where that nerve carries impulses. The muscles surrounding the injured disc can become fatigued and spasm.
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Dr. W. Christopher Urban
Glen Burnie, MDDisruption of the disc or an inflammatory reaction from an injured disc may lead to back pain. Specific causes include disc herniation, degeneration, instability, or spinal stenosis. When an injured disc places pressure on a nearby nerve root, it may cause back or radiating leg pain because of mechanical compression. In other situations, an abnormal disc may cause pain by releasing chemical by-products, which stimulate pain receptors. The outer layer of the disc, called the annulus, contains nerve endings, which are stimulated by various inflammatory molecules, which are released from injured or degenerated discs. This condition is often referred to as discogenic back pain.
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Dr. Kenneth A Pettine
Loveland, CODisc injuries cause back pain because of the intense enervation of the outer portion of the discs. When the discs become injured or degenerated, these nerves are stimulated producing intense pain signals to be sent to the brain.
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Dr. John S Shiau
Staten Island, NYDisc injuries can cause back pain in two separate ways. Number one, the disc has herniated, meaning the inside of the disc has come out and is pressing on some type of neuro structure. This pressure irritates the neuro structure causing pain. The second primary cause is simple disc degeneration. As the disc ages it no longer serves its function as a shock absorber for the spine.
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Dr. Andrew Glass
Someras Pt., NJInjury to the disc can cause pain in three different ways. First, the injured disc can itself be painful. The damage results in development of pain coming directly from the disc. Second, the injured disc may be weakened to the point that it no longer functions as it should. Normally, the discs allow for normal movement of the spine by acting as "shock absorbers" between the blocks of bone of the spine (vertebra). When the disc fails to do its job, the other parts of the spine, such as the joints known as facet joints, may suffer. This can generate secondary pain arising from the other structures. Finally, an injured disc may be displaced from its normal position and pinch (compress) a nerve, causing pain. If the displaced disc compresses or inflames a nerve, there may be back pain, leg pain or a combination of both.
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Dr. Donald D Dietze Jr.
Covington, LADisc injuries stimulate nerve fibers on the disc sending a signal of pain to the brain. Physiologically, direct distortion of the disc nerve fibers, or inflammatory stimulation of the disc nerve fibers, or direct compression of the parent nerves to the disc nerve fibers does this.
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Dr. Sylvain Palmer
Mission Viejo, CADisc injuries cause disruption of the normal structure of the disc. This can cause mechanical back pain. Also disc protrusions leak chemicals which are irritating to the nerves and can cause pain.
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Dr. Brett Taylor
St. Louis, MOLumbar disc herniation occurs most frequently in individuals in their 20s-50s. However, these injuries can occur at any age. When disc injury in the form of a herniation causes leg symptoms that do not improve with non-operative treatment, surgery may be required in the form of either a microdiscectomy or a spinal fusion.
When a disc is injured, inflammatory mediators can cause irritation of the nerve root causing radiculopathy or pain that radiates down the patient’s leg. In addition to the inflammatory component, the disc herniation can also produce a mass effect that puts pressure on the nerve and further complicates the patient’s nerve root irritation. -
Dr. Kambiz Hannani
Los Angeles, CADisc injuries have two ways of causing back pain. When the disc ruptures, some disc material can push on the nerves inside the spinal canal. This usually causes some leg pain and back pain on one side of the body. The disc can also lose its cushioning ability, which is common in degenerative disc disease. In this case, the disc starts to cause low back pains, which shoot into both sides of the back and buttocks.
The commentary above recounts the experiences of these physicians. Medtronic invited them to share their stories candidly. Keep in mind that results vary; not every patient's response is the same. Talk with your doctor to learn more about any products that are mentioned above.
It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications and benefits of spinal surgery with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your doctor's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
