The Link Between Herniated Discs and Spinal Stenosis


Your spine keeps you upright and protects your spinal cord, which is filled with nerves that connect with almost every area of your body. But, for all its importance, your spine is a rather delicate structure and prone to injury, especially as you age.

If you have lower back pain or neck pain, you may wonder why. Brian Fuller, MD, founder of Mountain Spine & Pain Physicians in Denver, Colorado, here discusses two common sources of back pain — herniated discs and spinal stenosis  — and how they’re related.

The anatomy of your spine

Your spine consists of a stack of vertebral bones that encase and protect your nerve-rich spinal cord. Your spinal cord starts at the base of your neck and runs down the center, hollow portion of the stacked vertebrae — an area known as the spinal canal — and ends in your lower back. 

All along the spinal cord, nerves branch out and exit through holes in the vertebrae so that they can connect with muscles throughout your body. The nerves carry messages from your brain to the muscles, and back again.

The stacked column of vertebrae also allows your spine to move in many directions, so that you can bend and twist without injuring your spinal cord. Each pair of vertebrae is separated from one another and cushioned by a spongy structure called a vertebral disc. The discs keep your bony vertebrae from grinding together, which would cause pain, and also act as shock absorbers.

The anatomy of your discs

The flat, round, rubbery vertebral discs are about half an inch thick. The discs consist of a jelly-like interior, known as the nucleus pulposus, and a flexible outer covering called the annulus fibrosus. 

When you exert pressure on your spine — by walking, running, or jumping — the nucleus expands from the added weight. When your discs are healthy, the annulus keeps the nucleus contained. Thanks to the annulus, the nucleus expands and moves, so that it can absorb and distribute shocks, yet maintains its position in between the vertebrae.

How and why a disc herniates

Just as your skin begins to lose structure, shape, and moisture over time, so do your vertebral discs. The constant pressure on your discs from your body weight also contributes to the breakdown of both the nucleus and the annulus.

As you age, the nucleus loses its high moisture content and begins to flatten and shrink. The annulus also starts to degrade and may develop small tears. Now, when the nucleus expands, the annulus may not be able to contain it. Instead, the nucleus pushes through a rip in the annulus and bulges into the spinal canal. 

When your annulus can’t contain the nucleus, the disc is considered to be herniated. Herniated discs are also called ruptured, slipped, or bulged discs.

How a herniated disc narrows your spine

When a disc herniates into the spinal canal, it presses against the nerves, causing pain and other symptoms. The presence of the herniated nucleus narrows the space in your spinal canal and may press against your spinal cord, a condition known as spinal stenosis. Symptoms of spinal stenosis include:

  • Neck or back pain
  • Numb or tingling hand, leg, or foot
  • Weakness in hand, leg, or foot
  • Trouble walking
  • Difficulty keeping your balance

If you have spinal stenosis in your lumbar spine (i.e., lower back), you might also experience pain or cramping in your legs when you walk or stand for a long time. The pain may diminish when you bend forward or sit.

Treating spinal stenosis and slipped discs

Dr. Fuller first conducts an examination and may order imaging studies to determine the source of your back or neck pain. Factors other than slipped discs can also cause back pain and spinal stenosis, including bone spurs that develop as a result of osteoarthritis.

Depending on your case and your needs, Dr. Fuller tailors an effective treatment plan. Options include:

  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
  • Physical therapy
  • Laminectomy
  • Laminotomy
  • Laminoplasty

You don’t have to suffer from back pain or rely on ineffective pain medications. Contact us by phone at 303-355-3700 or use our online booking form to book a spinal stenosis or herniated disc evaluation today.

Popular posts from this blog

How to Identify and Treat Sacroiliitis

Image
Up to  25% of lower back pain  is caused by an inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, a condition known as sacroiliitis. You have two sacroiliac joints: one on each side of your hips. The sacroiliac joints attach your sacrum (i.e., part of your lower back that lies between the tailbone and your lowest vertebrae) to your ilium (i.e., the upper portion of your pelvic bones). Brian Fuller, MD , and our expert team members at Mountain Spine & Pain Physicians in Denver, Colorado, recognize that  lower back pain  can be frustrating to live with and its underlying causes may be difficult to detect. Here, we share a few insights into what sacroiliitis is, how to know if you might have it, and how to treat it. A joint you can’t move Normally, when you think about your joints, you think about the “hinge” or “ball and socket” connections between two bones that allow you to do things like bend, flex, and rotate. Your sacroiliac joints, however, are tightly attached to each other with a series
Read more

Myths and Facts About PRP Therapy

Image
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has grown in popularity over the last few years, thanks to its ability to rapidly heal sports injuries. This minimally-invasive treatment uses your own blood to help you heal quickly. Even celebrity athletes like Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal, have used PRP therapy to help get them back on the playing field.  You’ve probably heard a lot about PRP therapy. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell fact from fiction. Don't worry, our team at   Mountain Spine & Pain Physicians  are here to help you learn the truth. FACT: PRP therapy uses blood with almost 10 times more growth factors Your blood contains plasma, which is a liquid that carries cells and proteins through your body. Turns out, your blood is also made up of tiny solids. These solids are better known as platelets, red cells, and white cells. Platelets help your body form blood clots. They also consist of proteins called “growth factors” which play a vital role in healing injuries. Platelet-rich plasma
Read more

How Lower Back Pain Affects Your Hips

Image
Your body isn’t just a set of unrelated systems that operate independently. Your spine and bones, muscles and other soft-tissues, and your nerves all affect one another. When you have lower back pain, for instance, it changes the way you hold and distribute your body weight, which alters the way you hold and use your  hip joints , too.    Brian J. Fuller, MD,  a Harvard-trained, triple-board certified physician and founder of Mountain Spine & Pain Physicians in Denver, Colorado, believes in healing the underlying problems that cause your pain. Here he discusses how untreated, unhealed lower back pain can hurt your hips, too. The kind of referral you don’t want When your hips and upper legs are stiff and painful, the problem might not originate in your hip joint at all. If you have sacroiliitis — an inflammation in one or both of your sacroiliac joints (i.e., the joint that connects your lower back to your pelvis) — the pain can radiate downward toward your hip joint. Pain that’s fe
Read more