Causes of Sciatica

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Disc protrusions are probably the most common disc conditions we see. The outer tough, fiberous cartilage can become less flexible over time and bulge out over time.

Intervertebral discs are similar to a jelly donut. You have the soft inner jelly called the "nucleus pulposus" and then you have the outer donut called the "annulus fibrosus." In more significant cases, the layers of the outer donut begin to tear and and get weak. The inner jelly can start to push outwards causing the outer layer to bulge. You can also relate it to the bubble on the sidewall of a tire.

A disc extrusion is considered a more severe case. Think of it as if the jelly of the donut starts to spill out. Depending on location, the extruded disc material can definitely cause nerve impingement, or nerve irritation.

Think of a sequestered disc as if the jelly of a donut is squeezed out and spills out. This is a severe case and surgical intervention is necessary.

Have you ever asked yourself where you feel the pain in your back? Is it in the middle? Can you "touch" the pain? Answers to these questions are important when trying to determine if an intervertebral disc is really the cause of your pain.

That's right, thousands. Twenty years of experience treating thousands of patients and reviewing hundreds of MRIs. More often than not, eventhough our patients had disc bulges, or herniations, this was not the source of their pain. Come in for a free consultation and talk about what could really be causing your pain.