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A herniated disk is also referred to as a ruptured disk, herniated nucleus pulposus, prolapsed disk, ruptured intervertebral disk, or a slipped disk.
A herniated disk is one of the common causes of lower-back pain. The disks round and flat structures between the vertebrae in your spinal column. The disks are generally made up of a tough outer material encompassing a soft gelatinous inner substance. The purpose of the disks are to cushion the back bones and allow the back to flex. A herniated disk is a tear in the covering of the disk that allows the soft inner substance to bulge out.
Herniated disks are most common in men ranging from the ages of twenty to fifty. A herniated disk occurs when there is any type of intense pressured applied to the disk by the vertebrae above or below it. This could be caused by improper lifting of heavy objects, a sudden twisting motion, a traumatic injury to the back area. Our natural aging process can be responsible as well, as we age the disk covers weaken. The physical nature of the persons work and or activity along with obesity are the most common factors to the development of a herniated disk.