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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration of a herniated disk Herniated disk

A herniated disk refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack up to make your spine.

A spinal disk is a little like a jelly donut, with a softer center encased within a tougher exterior. Sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk, a herniated disk occurs when some of the softer "jelly" pushes out through a crack in the tougher exterior.

A herniated disk can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. On the other hand, many people experience no symptoms from a herniated disk. Most people who have a herniated disk don't need surgery to correct the problem.

Symptoms
References
  1. Chad DA. Disorders of nerve roots and plexuses. In: Bradley WG, et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50117-5&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&sid=1063623544&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50117-5--cesec12&uniqId=221226396-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50117-5--cesec12. Accessed Oct. 5, 2010.
  2. Herniated disk. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00334. Accessed Oct. 5, 2010.
  3. Herniated disc. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.aans.org/Patient%20Information/Conditions%20and%20Treatments/Herniated%20Disc.aspx. Accessed Oct. 5, 2010.
  4. Herniated lumbar disc. North American Spine Society. http://www.spine.org/Documents/herniated_lumbar_disc_2006.pdf. Accessed Oct. 6, 2010.
  5. Herniated cervical disc. North American Spine Society. http://www.spine.org/Documents/herniated_cervical_disc_2006.pdf. Accessed Oct. 6, 2010.
  6. JAMA patient page: Herniated lumbar disks. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006;296:2512.
  7. Cauda equina syndrome. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.aans.org/Patient%20Information/Conditions%20and%20Treatments/Cauda%20Equina%20Syndrome.aspx. Accessed Oct. 6, 2010.
  8. Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Oct. 6, 2010.
  9. Chou R, et al. Diagnosis ad treatment of low back pain: A joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2007;147:478.
  10. Robinson J, et al. Treatment of cervical radiculopathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 7, 2010.
  11. Levin K, et al. Lumbosacral radiculopathy: Prognosis and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 7, 2010.
  12. Dworkin RH, et al. Pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain: Evidence-based recommendations. Pain. 2007;132:237.
  13. Shelerud RA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 13, 2010.
DS00893 Dec. 18, 2010

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