Composed of bone and intervertebral discs, the spine plays a major role in supporting and bearing the weight of the body. By giving a cushioning effect, the intervertebral discs allow us to achieve a certain degree of body flexion. As modern people often bow their heads to look down on their mobile phones and bend their spines incorrectly, the intervertebral discs in the neck and waist are often stressed, which make disc herniation an even more common problem nowadays.

Intervertebral discs are in fact surrounded by fibrous tissues. In the centre of the discs is a jelly-like substance called nucleus pulposus, which is tightly wrapped and protected by the annulus. When the tissues have been stressed for a prolonged period, aged or strained, the annulus may tear. Then when the gel is squeezed out, the problem of disc herniation will result. The protruding discs may be pressed to the surrounding nerves, causing sciatica, which often comes with pain, tingling sensation, numbness or weakness.

Although there are many intervertebral discs in the spine, thoracic vertebrae usually stabilise the spine with the help of the ribs. Hence, the problem of herniated dorsal vertebrae is less likely. On the contrary, cervical vertebrae and lumbar vertebrae have a larger range of motion and often bear a heavier weight. Meanwhile, certain bad habits such as incorrect postures, frequently looking down at mobile phones, prolonged sitting or standing at work, frequent bending of the spine, frequent transfer of heavy objects with wrong postures, and giving pressure on the intervertebral discs around the waist when sitting on the sofa will all create pressure on the spine and intervertebral discs. Such wrong habits, if persistent over time, can all trigger disc herniation. In addition, lack of exercise and insufficient flexibility and strength of the back muscles to support the lumbar spine will also increase the risk of disc herniation.

Other reasons such as overweight, aging, and trauma (e.g. car accidents, falls, etc.) can all lead to the condition of disc herniation.

Common signs of disc herniation include weakness, numbness, and tingling sensation. In fact, the degree of disc herniation and the influence on the nerves will affect the severity and location of pain, which does not limit to low back pain. The symptoms mainly occur in three major body regions, including:

1. Sciatica:

The strong radiating pain along the sciatic nerve extends from the lower back through the pelvis and buttocks to the feet, making the lower limbs weak and numb while giving a tingling sensation.

General orthopaedic surgeons will examine the nerves of lower extremities and perform clinical diagnosis. If necessary, the patient may be asked to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to obtain a clearer picture on the location of the herniated discs as well as the degree of compression on the nerve tissues.

Sometimes the doctor may choose more conservative treatments, such as prescribing special drugs and physiotherapy in order to alleviate discomfort. In case the pain persists or if the case becomes more severe, surgery is recommended for removing the protruded intervertebral discs. The new minimally invasive surgery can minimise surgical incisions to reduce trauma, speed recovery and reduce the length of hospitalisation. The patient still needs to undergo physiotherapy and strengthen the back muscles after the surgery in order to prevent recurrence of disc herniation.

1. Maintain good postures

To avoid triggering disc herniation, maintaining good postures in our everyday life is a crucial step. Those who sit for a long time during work should cultivate a good sitting posture. Try to choose chairs with backrests that can help to support the lumbar spine. Meanwhile, try to avoid prolonged sitting. Avoid using either side of the shoulders when carrying items. Rather, use backpacks to evenly distribute the weight. When the objects are too heavy, avoid directly bending the spine to carry the goods, trolleys should be used to help with the transfer instead.