There is wide range of terms used to describe spinal disc problems such as disc, slipped disc, herniated disc, pinched nerve, bulging disc, black disc meaning all the same.

Unfortunately, healthcare professionals do not agree on a precise definition of any of these terms, and patients may be confused when they hear their diagnosis referred to in different terms.

Meant is a crack in the rubbery cartilage (disc) which is positioned between each bony vertebra and allows the soft jelly central portion (nucleus) to move out.

Discs act as shock absorbers, tough ligaments and joints that allow for slight mobility in the spine. There is a total of twenty-three vertebral discs in the spinal column.

Symptoms

Symptoms include a shooting pain into your arm or leg especially while coughing, sneezing or moving into certain positions, numbness, tingling or weakness in an arm or leg.

Reasons are a result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called disk degeneration. By aging the spinal discs lose some of their water content. That makes them less flexible and more prone to tearing or rupturing with even a minor strain or twist. Rarely, a traumatic event such as a fall or a blow to the back can cause a herniated disk.

Risk factors contain overweight, physically demanding jobs with repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting and genetics.

Prevention embrace

• Regular Exercises (swimming).
• Good posture, particularly when sitting for long periods or lifting heavy objects (making your legs — not your back — do most of the work).
• Maintain of a healthy weight.