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Prolapsed Disc

A prolapsed disc is another name for a ruptured or herniated disc, which also is known as a “slipped” disc. They all refer to the same spinal condition – a tear or split in the outer wall of an intervertebral disc, through which some of the disc’s gel-like nucleus protrudes into the spinal canal. This problem can happen anywhere along the spine, but is most common in the lower back, where the lumbar vertebrae bear much of the body’s weight.

Disc ailments often occur in stages, and a prolapsed disc is a relatively early stage of disc degeneration. When a disc is weakened (often due to age or injury), the disc can “prolapse,” or escape from its normal position between the vertebrae. This prolapse can eventually lead to a full herniation, or tearing, of the disc and the leaking of inner disc material into the spinal column.

A herniated or prolapsed disc can be caused by spinal injury, but usually is related to normal wear and tear of the spinal column. With age, the water content of the intervertebral discs begins to diminish. When a disc dries out, it loses flexibility and becomes brittle. The vertebrae above and below begin to compress the disc, which can cause the gel-like center (the nucleus pulposus) to place pressure on the tough, fibrous disc wall (the annulus fibrosus). As that pressure builds, the integrity of the disc wall is compromised and the nucleus begins to force its way out through the weakest point in the wall – leading to a prolapsed disc.

In many cases, a herniated or ruptured disc is asymptomatic and remains undetected, because extruding disc material does not irritate or impinge an adjacent nerve root or the spinal cord. However, when a prolapsed disc does cause a pinched nerve, it can produce the following symptoms:

• Pain at the site of the disc prolapse
• Pain in regions of the body innervated by the pinched nerve
• Numbness or tingling in associated regions of the body
• Muscle weakness in the arms or legs

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In most patients, disc prolapse symptoms can be treated conservatively, using physical therapy, pain medications, exercise, or rest. If weeks or months of conservative treatment prove ineffective, Laser Spine Institute (LSI) might be able to help. The award-winning surgeons at LSI use gentle, endoscopic techniques to perform minimally invasive, outpatient procedures that can help patients rediscover a life the without the pain associated with a prolapsed disc. Contact LSI to learn more, and for a free review of an MRI or CT scan.

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