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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffYour spinal column is made up of bones (vertebrae) cushioned by small oval pads of cartilage or disks consisting of a tough outer layer (annulus) and a soft, jelly-like inner layer (nucleus). These disks act as springs, absorbing shock and allowing bending movements of your spine. They assist your spinal muscles in protecting your spine from the stress of everyday tasks and heavy lifting.
When a herniated disk occurs, a small portion of the nucleus pushes out through a tear in the annulus into the spinal canal. This situation can cause irritation of one of the spinal nerves.
Disk herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called degeneration of the disks. As you age, your spinal disks 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.
Most people can't pinpoint the exact cause of their herniated disk. Sometimes, using your back muscles instead of your leg and thigh muscles to lift large, heavy objects can lead to a herniated disk, as can twisting and turning while lifting. Rarely, a traumatic event such as a fall or a blow to the back can cause a herniated disk.
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