Potential Causes Of A Herniated Disc In Your Back
When it comes to causes of back pain, a herniated disc is extremely uncomfortable. That's because this type of back pain involves pressure on the nerves in your back, which can result in extreme irritation. Sometimes, a herniated disc can be difficult to diagnose, as you can notice discomfort in parts of your body other than your back because of the pressure on the nerves. If you believe that you have a herniated disc, or you're just dealing with back pain, you should avoid strenuous activity and schedule a checkup with a chiropractor. Here are some potential ways that you could get this type of back injury.
Lifting Heavy Objects
Lifting something heavy is a common way to suffer from a herniated disc in your lower back. When you're bending forward and your body is tense as you lift something heavy, there will be a lot of pressure on your lower back. Although a healthy, strong back may be able to endure this action, someone with a potential weakness in this area could quickly notice pain as one of his or her discs is pushed backward and makes contact with the nerves. Your risk of a herniated disc while lifting heavy objects is always higher when you use improper mechanics to complete this action.
Absorbing A Hard Impact
A sudden and hard impact has the potential of leaving you with a herniated disc and its associated pain, too. For example, if you're playing a contact sport such as football and you're hit awkwardly, your spine could take the impact with enough force that one of your discs gets pushed out of its proper spot in alignment with those above and below it. You could also suffer the same injury upon falling off your bicycle or being in a motor vehicle accident.
Extended Bad Posture
Using bad posture once in a while might leave you with stiff muscles, but if you make a habit of often sitting in a bad position for long stretches of time, a herniated disc could be in your near future. If you're bending forward, for example, there's a significant degree of pressure on your lower back. When you sit in this manner, you should be able to feel this pressure. Unless you learn to change your ways, you might eventually encounter sharp pain that is indicative of a herniated disc. If you suspect that you have this injury, see a chiropractor promptly.