Ruptured Disc

Ruptured discs are most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called degeneration of the disc. As you age, your spinal discs lose some of their water content, making them less flexible and more prone to rupturing. Many causes of ruptured disc stems from people using their back muscles instead of leg and thigh muscles to lift heavy objects. Twisting and turning while lifted can also be the cause for a ruptured disc.

Although less frequent, a fall or blow to the back can also cause a herniated disc. A herniated disc is another cause of back pain, sometimes called a slipped disc or a ruptured disc.

As the spinal disc becomes less elastic, it can rupture. When the disc ruptures, a portion of the spinal disc pushes outside its normal boundary, known as a herniated disc. This can irritate the nerve and result in pain, numbness or weakness in your back, leg or arm.

Symptoms Of Ruptured Disc

You can have a herniated disc without knowing it, as herniated discs sometimes show up on spinal images of people who have no symptoms of a disc problem, however, some herniated discs can be painful. The most common signs and symptoms of a herniated disc are pain, numbness and weakness in your lower back and leg, or in your neck, shoulder and arm. Some people often experience sciatica, a pain that starts in the buttock and extends down the back or side of one leg. Low back pain or leg pain that worsens when you sit.

Treatment of Ruptured Disc

A herniated disc generally gets better with conservative treatment. Surgery for a herniated disc usually isn’t necessary. Treatment of a herniated disc depends on a number of factors such as age of the patient, activity levels of the patient and symptoms experienced. Our Chartered Physiotherapists can provide personalised lumbar stabilisation exercises, which will not directly affect the disc, but they can stabilise the lumbar spine muscles.

This has an effect of decreasing the load experienced by the disc and vertebrae. Stronger, well balanced muscles help control the lumbar spine and minimize the risk or injury to the nerves and the disc. Our Physios not only advise you on how to exercise safely but also on what types of exercise are suitable for your age and condition.

Our Expertise

Our physiotherapists are highly trained and qualified to provide expert care to our patients. They are fully insured and are chartered by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP).

We have team of Clinical leads who visits our physios and clinics to ensure a level of customer service and quality care that exceeds our competition is given to patients every time.