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Other Health Topics:
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Related Topics
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Go Local
- Services and providers for Herniated Disk in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Herniated Disk is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Herniated Disk
Also called: Bulging disk, Compressed disk, Herniated intervertebral disk, Herniated nucleus pulposus, Prolapsed disk, Ruptured disk, Slipped disk
Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bones called vertebrae. In between them are soft disks filled with a jelly-like substance. These disks cushion the vertebrae and keep them in place. A herniated disk is a disk that slips out of place or ruptures. If it presses on a nerve, it can cause back pain or sciatica.
Symptoms include
- Back pain that spreads to the buttocks and legs, when the herniated disk is in your lower back
- Neck pain that spreads to the shoulders and upper arms, when the herniated disk is in your upper back
- Tingling or numbness
- Muscle spasms or weakness
With treatment, most people recover. It can take a long time. Treatments include rest, pain and anti-inflammatory medicines, physical therapy and sometimes surgery. Losing weight can help, too.
Start Here
- Herniated Disc(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
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Herniated Disk: What It Is and What You Can Do(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
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| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Discography(North American Spine Society) - Links to PDF
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MRI of the Spine(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Also available in Spanish
- Spine X-Ray(Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
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Treatment
- Artificial Discs(North American Spine Society) - Links to PDF
- Laminectomy or Laminotomy(North American Spine Society)
- Laparoscopic Spine Surgery(Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons)
- Open Discectomy(North American Spine Society) - Links to PDF
- Spinal Fusion(North American Spine Society) - Links to PDF
- Spinal Injections(North American Spine Society) - Links to PDF
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Alternative Therapy
- Prolotherapy(InteliHealth)
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Specific Conditions
- Cauda Equina Syndrome(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
- Cervical Radiculopathy(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Cervical Spine(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
- Cervical Spondylosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Herniated Cervical Disc(North American Spine Society) - Links to PDF
- Herniated Lumbar Disc(North American Spine Society) - Links to PDF
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JAMA Patient Page: Herniated Lumbar Disks(American Medical Association)
Also available in Spanish
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Videos
- Anterior Cervical Fusion(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program
- Anterior Spinal Fusion(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 5/11/2007
- Minimally Invasive Discectomy(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 6/16/2006
- Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 12/05/2006
- PEEK Rod System for Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 6/12/2007
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Anatomy of the Spine(National Pain Foundation)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Intervertebral Disk Displacement
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Intervertebral Disk Displacement
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Research
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Study Shows Patients with Herniated Disks Improve over Time - Even without Surgery(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
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Study Shows Patients with Herniated Disks Improve over Time - Even without Surgery
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Clinical results and surgical technique for the treatment of extreme...
- Article: Discal hernia in children and teenagers: medical, surgical and recovery...
- Article: The learning curve of minimally-invasive lumbar microdiscectomy.
- Herniated Disk -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Glossary of Terms(North American Spine Society)
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Directories
- Spine Care Provider Search(North American Spine Society)
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Organizations
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Also available in Spanish
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Date last updated: 01 May 2008 Topic last reviewed: 15 November 2007 |