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Back Disc Protrusion

Back disc protrusion is a common condition that can occur after years of wear and tear on the spine. The condition involves the intervertebral discs, or the cartilaginous pads that connect the vertebrae of the spine and also provide padding for our everyday movements. As these pads break down and weaken, they lose their ability to maintain structural integrity and can tear, leak, or bulge into the surrounding areas of the spine.

To understand the nature of a back disc protrusion, it helps to compare it to similar disc conditions, including the following:

• Herniated disc – a tear in the outer wall of an intervertebral disc causes the inner gel-like fluid to leak into the spinal column.
• Bulging disc – a weakened disc wall cannot hold its shape and succumbs to pressure from the inner material. The disc is forced to bulge out between the vertebrae. A bulging disc typically involves more than 180 degrees of the oval-shaped disc’s circumference.
• Back disc protrusion – a more acute case of bulging disc that occurs when the disc is still intact, but a certain percentage of the disc’s total circumference (180 degrees or less) extrudes from the vertebral column and could be close to rupturing. Ironically, when a smaller percentage of the disc protrudes, the protrusion often becomes more pronounced and able to impinge on nerve roots or the spinal cord.

It should be noted that, in all of the above conditions, pain is a result of nerve compression; therefore, treatments will aim to reduce that compression or deaden the pain. In addition to pain, there are other serious symptoms to consider, depending on the exact location of the disc protrusion, including:

• Cervical disc protrusion – the cervical vertebrae are in the neck and upper back; be aware of pain, numbness, or tingling in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands
• Thoracic disc protrusion – the thoracic vertebrae are in the middle back; be aware of pain surrounding the rib cage; check to see if you retain the ability to move your ribs from side to side
• Lumbar disc protrusion – the lumbar vertebrae are in the lower back; pain may radiate from the back to the buttocks to the legs and feet; check for numbness or tingling as you bend down or arch back

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If you want more information about back disc protrusion or procedures aimed at relieving pressure on pinched nerves, contact the experts at Laser Spine Institute (LSI). We are at the forefront of minimally invasive endoscopic technology that has helped tens of thousands of people rediscover a life without pain. Let us review your MRI or CT scan, completely free of charge.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.