Butt-bound and/or Tech-driven?
Do you live a Butt-bound, Tech-driven life?
If so, you may suffer from what’s called the ‘sitting disease’. More and more people with back or leg pain, or weakness of the lower extremity muscles are diagnosed with a herniated disc. It may occur suddenly as an accident, or gradually with repetitive spine-straining, as in a sedentary lifestyle.
A herniated disc means that a cushion between two spinal vertebrae is ruptured and pushed out of its boundary. The space for the spinal nerves and spinal cord is diminished and they may become compressed. As a result abnormal signals may get passed from the compressed nerves to the brain or to the extremities, or signals may not get passed at all.
Common symptoms of a herniated disc include:
- Electric shocks. Compression in the neck region causes shocks to go down your arms. Pinging in the lower back causes shocks to go down your legs.
- Tingling, numbness, or pins/needles. Can be experienced in the same region.
- Muscle Weakness. Nerve irritation can also be tested by examining reflexes.
- Bowel or Bladder Problems. This may be the cauda equina syndrome.
Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome are:
- Difficultly controlling the bowel and/or bladder,
- Numbness around the genitals,
- Progressive numbness or weakness of the legs.
