Workers in all industries risk injury during their employment. The back is one of the most commonly injured areas of all major body parts. Major back injuries include herniated disks.
Disks are rubbery cushions between the bones of your vertebrae. A tough exterior encases those rubbery cushions and when the disk tears through the encasement, it causes a herniated disk.
What causes herniated disks?
Herniated disks often occur because of a sudden, excessive strain. While the body’s disks can degenerate with age and the ligaments can weaken, a twist or sudden movement typically leads to a rupture. Common causes of herniated disks include heavy lifting or slipping and falling while at work.
What are the symptoms of a herniated disk?
Most of the time herniated disks occur in the lower back. However, herniated disks may also occur in the neck. Most of the time, your symptoms depend on where the disk is situated and whether it presses on nerves. Some common symptoms are:
- Numbness or tingling in the body part is controlled by the nerves. You may have radiating numbness or tingling in the limb.
- When you have a herniated disk in your lower back, you will most likely experience pain in the lower back, thigh, calf and buttocks. You may also feel pain in your feet too.
- If you herniate a disk in your neck, you will probably feel pain in your arm and shoulder. The pain can shoot through your arm or leg when you sneeze, cough or move into different positions.
Herniated disks can limit your ability to carry out your work-related tasks. In severe cases, herniated disks may require surgery.