The Facts
The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. Between the bones
of the spine are small discs or cartilage that are hard on the outside and soft
and jelly-like on the inside. The discs act to absorb shocks caused when the
spine moves. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves running through the canal
within the spinal column. It carries messages to and from the brain via nerve
roots which branch out to the body along the length of the spinal cord. A herniated,
prolapsed, or ruptured disc happens when the inner material bulges
or bursts through the outer lining of cartilage, and irritates or may even damage
the roots of spinal nerves. This irritation causes constant back and leg pain.
Herniated discs are common in people between 30 and 40 years old. People who
spend a lot of time sitting, like truck drivers, or those who twist their back
a lot, are the most likely to develop a herniated disc.