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Disks are the "shock absorbers" between the bones of the spine [veterbra].

They are shaped essentially like a hocky puck and are filled with a thick material.

If the disk becomes worn out in an area it will bulge out, like a bubble. If the bubble [herniated area] bulges against a nerve about to leave the spine you'll get a lot of burning pain along where the nerve runs [like down the back of the leg with sciatica].

Roughly 70% of the herniated disks heal themselves within a few short weeks and scar in place, rarely to bother you again.

Those that don't heal, eventually MAY require surgery...

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Current research has suggested that a bulging disk does not necessarily cause pain by compressing nerves, but more likely by sensitizing nerves through local inflammation factors released by damaged cells and cells of the immune system (cytokines). Thus, over time as the inflammation goes down the pain will also go away. Usually, even after the pain is gone the disk bulge or herniation will remain, sometimes contacting nerves or even the spinal cord. It has been suggested that as many as 30% of the population has one or more asymptomatic (non-painful) disk bulges (1-4). It is likely a normal part of aging, so unless it is causing you pain, don't panic :)

1) Saal, Joel S.; Franson, Richard C.; Dobrow, Robert; Saal, Jeffrey A.; White, Arthur H.; Goldthwaite, Noel. High Levels of Inflammatory Phospholipase A2 Activity in Lumbar Disc Herniations. Spine. 1990; Volume 15 - Issue 7

2) Jensen MC, Brant-Zawadzki MN, Obuchowski N, Modic MT, Malkasian D, Ross JS. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without Back pain. N Engl J Med 1994;331:69 --73.

3) Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TS, Patronas NJ, Wiesel SW. Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation. J Bone Joint Surg 1990;72:403-- 8.

4) Jarvik JJ, Hollingworth W, Heagerty P, Haynor DR, Deyo RA. The longitudinal assessment of Imaging and disability of the back (LAIDBack) Study: baseline data. Spine 2001;26:1158--66.

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