Steemit Learning Challenge-S21W6; Disc Herniation"

Imagine how time flies, we have reached season 21 week 6 of steemit learning challenge. I really enjoyed this course because our health is our wealth. I 'm here to present this week homework task. Please read below.

What's disc herniation? Write in your own words after getting knowledge from the lesson post.

Another name for Disc herniation is commonly known as ruptured disc or slipped disc. So Disc herniation is a common spinal disc problem in which one or more discs are displaced or damaged. From what l have learn, I realised that discs present in our spine connect the surface bones and act as a buffer during movement.

It can also be described to be a condition that happens when the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc wears down. When the gel bulges out due to wear, it reduces the space in the disc, leading to more damage. A disc herniates compress nearby structures like ligaments, muscle, tendons, and nerves of the sciatic nerve.

This condition is mostly seen in elderly people where wear and tear associated with age happens, keeping wrong postures when trying to lift up heavy weights or pick up items with excess weight can puts extra stress on the spine and lastly it can be hereditary Causes which is due to genetic factors. In summary the four causes of this condition is aging, injury, genetic and lifestyle factors.

Types of disc herniation

Disc Herniation are classified into three types depending on the level of the disc region where it occurred. They involves:

• Thoracic disc herniation:- This type affects the T1-T12 discs in the upper back or thoracic area.

• Cervical disc herniation:- This involves the C1-C7 vertebrae. This type of herniation is age related, the wear and tear occurs in the cervical region.

• Lumbar disc herniation:- This affects the L1-L5 discs and typically occurs in the lower back region.

Symptoms of disc herniation

Disc herniation have no symptoms but in rare cases people suffering from disc herniation may experience the following:

Pain:- You might feel sharp pain in your back or neck that radiates down into your arms or legs.

Difficult Move:- You might find it hard to bend or twist your back comfortably.
Feeling of weakness in the upper part of the body like the neck, arms and lower body parts like legs and thighs.

Tingling sensation and numbness due to the compression of the nerve.

Pain in the path of the sciatic nerve usually from the button legs, thighs and even the foot in extreme cases. (Sciatica)

How would you diagnose a disc herniation? Any clinical investigation or assessment tests?

This involves a combination of medical history, physical examination and diagnostic imaging.

Medical history: The doctor start by asking you about questions on your general health,
He will ask the patient about the sign and symptoms he or she is feeling, the duration of symptoms, the severity of the pain, the location of pain and previous episodes of pains.

When performing physical examination, it is advisable for the doctor to inspect and palpate the spine surrounding muscle and tissue.

Range of motion and neurological examination should also be considered.

Diagnostic Imaging

MRI: An MRI is performed to check for any impact on muscles and to see if nerves are compressed due to the herniated disc.

X-ray: X-ray test imaging are used to check if there is reduction in the disc space and also to assess bone overgrowth.

Computed tomography CT scan : this scan is used to diagnose disc Herniation when MRI is not available.

Electromyography (EMG): This test is used in measuring of electrical activity of muscle and nerve damage.

Nerve Conduction studies NCS : This help in measuring the strength and speed of nerve signal which helps in detection of nerve compression or damages.

Special Test To Diagnose Disc Herniation.

Cervical Disc Herniation

• Cervical Flexion test
  This test is conducted to assess the range of motion ( ROM) of the Cervical Spine. The Patient is asked to flex their neck forward and if the patient experiences any pain then it shows Disc Herniation.

• Extension test
  In this test, the Patient is asked to extend their neck backwards and if he or she experiences pain, then it indicates Disc Herniation.

• Spurling Test

This Test is conducted to identify the nerve root compression in the Cervical Spine, we asked the patient to extend their neck, rotate the neck and head to the side and if much pain is experienced then it indicates Disc herniation.

Thoracic Disc Herniation

• Rotation Test
  In this test, the patient will be asked to rotate their upper body and if the patient experiences pain, then Disc Herniation is positive.

• Thoracic Spine Extension

In this test, the Patient is asked to bend forward and then distance between two marks on the patient's back is measured. If there is a decrease in distance between the marks, it indicates that there is Disc Herniation.

For Lumbar Disc Herniation

• Straight Leg Raise Test

I will ask the patient to lie on their back and then one of their leg is lifted up towards their Chest and if the patient experiences pain radiating down the leg, then is that he or she is having Disc herniation.

• Valsalva Maneuver

In this test, the Patient is asked to hold their breath and if pain radiating down the leg is felt, then Disc Herniation is very positive.

Try to practice at least 3 exercises that you have learned from the lesson. Share images, gifs or videos while practicing preferably gifs or videos.

Sciatic Nerve Glides

According to our teacher, It's important to relieve inflammation, pain and pressure on sciatic nerve . Improve range of motion, mobility and reduce adhesions that are formed due to disc herniation. This is nothing but 100% truth because it contributes effectively in fixing the above conditions.