What is a disc prolapse?

What is a disc prolapse? Just click the images to see representative pictures of typical disc injuries - for descriptions see below. If you cannot see the images below you need to update your Adobe Flash Player for free - just click the link and follow the instructions. Just click the pictures directly to enlarge and navigate or better still use the top right enlarge button to view full screen and Esc to return. A normal healthy disc Disc's can give rise to pain in a number of ways. It is very unusual for a healthy (fat) disc to give pain but as a disc degenerates it can then become painful in a variety of ways. Annular tear (tear in the wall of the disc) This is where as a result of a trauma (e.g. lifting) the annulus (dough) tears very much like a paper cut. This gives rise to back +/- buttock pain. Disc bulge The degenerate disc is no longer as thick as it was so the outer part of the disc bulges (like squashing a doughnut). This part is called the annulus (represented here by the dough) and it is pain sensitive, therefore this bulging hurts. Also chemicals can be released from the disc that can irritate the pain sensitive structures that surround your nerves (Dura). Disc herniation/extrusion/prolapse This is where the nucleus (represented in the photos by the jam), pushes out from the centre and protrudes. When this occurs it can press on one of the nerves that form the Sciatic nerve to give rise to buttock/leg pain with or without weakness and pins and needles. Disc sequestration This is where the jam (nucleus) has been squeezed out even further and has separated from the disc. This gives rise to severe back and sciatic leg symptoms.