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Disc Pain

Disc pain is a misunderstood condition which affects millions of people worldwide. Painful disc conditions are typically blamed on either herniations or degeneration, although neither is inherently symptomatic. Even when patients do experience actual structural pain, the disc itself might be the cause, but is rarely inherently painful in itself.

Disc Pain

Disc Pain Conditions

The term “painful disc” makes it seem like the disc structure is actually suffering pain. This is not likely in virtually any scenario, since true discogenic pain is extremely rare and might not exist at all. The most common reasons for pain associated with a disc condition are:

* A herniated disc might press on a spinal nerve root or the actual spinal cord. This can cause short term pain (6 to 8 weeks usually) and related neurological symptoms including weakness, numbness and tingling. When the disc compresses a nerve root in the neuroforamen opening, the condition is called foraminal stenosis. When the disc compresses the actual spinal cord (far rarer) this is called spinal stenosis.

* A ruptured disc might spill some irritating proteins into surrounding nerve tissue. This controversial diagnosis which is not proven to affect the majority of affected patients is called chemical radiculitis.

* A patient with advanced degenerative disc disease might experience drastic spinal changes due to the arthritic process. This typically results from increase vertebral contact and the growth of bone spurs called osteophytes. These osteophytes can also compress a spinal nerve root in the foraminal opening (foraminal stenosis). DDD might contribute to some symptomatic cases of facet joint syndrome as well.

Disc Pain Reality

All these disc related conditions might exist, but are rarely to blame for serious or ongoing chronic back pain. Most of the degenerative changes in the spine are completely normal and not harmful or painful at all. Some might cause mild symptoms in a small percentage of affected individuals. It is rare for typical spinal degeneration to cause serious pain complaints. While DDD does aid the arthritic processes in the spine, these changes are simply part of getting older and are not inherently symptomatic.

Herniated discs are mostly a benign spinal occurrence and also seldom cause severe pain. Many go completely unnoticed and undiagnosed for years. Even painful sudden herniations, due to substantial trauma, typically resolve within 2 months time, with or without medical care. The chances of a herniated disc living up to its fearsome reputation and causing chronic back pain for years at a time is very low indeed…

Disc Pain Advice

Remember, spinal discs do not have nerve endings or blood vessels and can not experience pain by themselves. The theory of discogenic pain is just that… a theory. Even if it does exist, the tiny nerves involved in regulating disc function are highly unlikely to create considerable pain or related neurological symptoms.

A great percentage of disc complaints are actually misdiagnosed. A herniated disc might exist in the area and take the blame for pain which it is not causing. DDD is also likely to exist (since we all have it) and might be blamed instead. Once again, DDD is almost certainly innocent of creating serious pain…

Most misdiagnosed herniated disc symptoms are actually due to simple ischemia of the spinal nerves and muscles. This process is rarely correctly identified as the real cause of pain in most affected patients, leading to long term, but virtually ineffective treatment, often culminating with unnecessary and equally disappointing herniated disc surgery. Don’t let this become your reality. Learn the facts about herniated discs while there is still time to make a rational and informed choice when it comes to the best herniated disc treatment option.

Disc Pain to Herniated Disc Home
7/23/08 Revised 12/4/09