Disk injuries are extremely common and we see them at Tulsa Spine and Rehab quite a bit.
The disk is a spongy structure positioned between two of the vertebra bones in the spine. It serves as shock absorption and provides space which allows the spine to function properly. It is subject to wear and tear in our bodies, resulting in disk bulges, disk herniations, protrusions and degenerative disk disease.
One type of injury is what we refer to as “acute” which is a sudden onset injury. More commonly, we see the cumulative type of injury which occurs from bending and twisting when lifting heavy loads. It’s important to avoid picking something up from a bent or flexed posture because the rotational force on that disk can result in injury, herniation or a bulge. This can lead to Sciatica which was discussed in a previous blog. Patients frequently ask the question, “What should I be doing, or what should I not be doing?”
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