How many discs do humans have?

There are 23 discs in the human spine: 6 in the cervical region (neck), 12 in the thoracic region (middle back), and 5 in the lumbar region (lower back). IVDs allow the spine to be flexible without sacrificing a great deal of strength.

What are the 33 discs in the spine?

Vertebrae are the 33 individual bones that interlock with each other to form the spinal column. The vertebrae are numbered and divided into regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx (Fig. 2). Only the top 24 bones are moveable; the vertebrae of the sacrum and coccyx are fused.

What are discs in the human body?

Disc Definition

A disc is the soft pad positioned in between each of the vertebrae of the spine. The vertebral disc acts as a spacer, shock absorber, and part of the cartilaginous joints that allow movement in the spine.

How many discs are in your lower back?

Disks in the lumbar spine

Five disks are positioned between the vertebrae of your lumbar spine. In addition to functioning as a shock absorber, they help support your body's weight by bearing the load coming down your spine and allow movement between each vertebra.

Where is human disc located?

Between each vertebra is an intervertebral disk. The disks are filled with a gelatinous substance, called the nucleus pulposus, which provides cushioning to the spinal column.

VERTEBRAL COLUMN ANATOMY (1/2)

Are discs in your neck or back?

A total of six disks are positioned between the seven cervical vertebrae (one between two vertebrae). In addition to cushioning against stresses placed on your neck, the disks allow you to flex and rotate your head more easily during activity.

How do you fix L4 and L5 back pain?

How many discs can be removed?

Depending on your particular case, one disc (single-level) or more (multi-level) may be removed. A variety of surgical tools and techniques can be used to perform a discectomy.

What happens if you lose a disc in your back?

A herniated disc (also known as a disc herniation and sometimes called a "slipped disc") occurs when a piece of a spinal disc bulges or ruptures and slips out of place, squeezing a spinal nerve. This may cause leg pain, leg weakness, leg numbness, cauda equina syndrome, and/or low back pain.

Can you live without discs in your back?

You can't live without a spine. Some conditions, such as SCI and spina bifida, can affect the spinal cord, leading to symptoms like a partial or complete loss of movement or sensation. However, many individuals with these conditions go on to lead active, fulfilling lives.

Do discs regenerate?

Once a disc is injured, it cannot repair itself, and a spiral of degeneration can set in with three stages that appear to occur over 20 to 30 years: Acute pain makes normal movement of the back difficult. The bone where the injury occurred becomes relatively unstable.

Can back discs be removed?

Diskectomy is surgery to remove the damaged part of a disk in the spine that has its soft center pushing out through the tough outer lining. A herniated disk can irritate or press on nearby nerves. Diskectomy works best for treating pain that travels down the arms or legs from a compressed nerve.

What are the 4 degenerative discs?

The Four Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease

These four stages are the Dysfunction Stage, the Dehydration Stage, the Stabilization Stage, and the Collapsing Stage.

At what case disc surgery is needed?

Herniated disk surgery is an option if you're otherwise healthy but: You feel so much pain that you can't get around or do your daily activities. You have numbness or weakness from the disk pressing on nerves. You can't control your bladder or bowels.

How do you regenerate discs?

DRT treatment promotes the healing of injured discs through the injection of glucosamine and dextrose solution into the center of the disc. These natural substances stimulate the growth of new collagen fibers and increase the strength of the painful disc.

What is the life expectancy of a disc replacement?

In more than 90% of patients, an artificial disc replacement will last at least 10 years and likely for the rest of your life. Simulated wear studies indicate artificial discs could last a minimum of 40 years and perhaps up to 100 years.

Can you live a normal life after a disc replacement?

Daily Living

After cervical disc replacement surgery, most people can return to a life with minimal to no neck pain. In other words, the things you have lost because of chronic neck pain may be yours once again.

Is it worth getting a disc replacement?

The greatest benefit of artificial disc replacement surgery is that it allows your spine to bend, twist, and flex normally. Unlike spinal fusion, which limits the movement of your spine by fusing two vertebrae together, disc replacement only affects the one vertebral set that houses the diseased disk. Dr.

How many years does a spinal fusion last?

How Many Years Does a Spinal Fusion Last? Spinal fusion is intended to last for life, as the results are permanent. Many spinal fusion patients experience improved pain and mobility for many years after the surgery.

How serious is disc surgery?

There is a slight risk of damaging the spine or nerves. All surgery has some risks, including bleeding, infection, risks from anesthesia, and death. There is a chance that the surgery won't relieve your symptoms. And even if you get better with surgery, there is a chance you may get new symptoms in the future.

Is disc replacement a major surgery?

Lumbar disk replacement is generally seen as an alternative to the more common spinal fusion surgery. Fusion permanently joins 2 vertebrae together. Lumbar disk replacement is a major surgery that requires general anesthesia and a hospital stay.

What should I not do with my L4-L5 disc?

Generally speaking, as the L4 and L5 discs are located right at the bottom of the lumbar spine you'll want to avoid exercises that involve any kind of forward bending that can cause further compression from the waist down.

Is L4-L5 disc bulge serious?

A L4–L5 disc bulge (or slip-disc) in the L4-L5 region can cause severe health issues such as impotence and reproduction issues. It can also lead to infertility, loss or control of the bowel or bladder, paralysis in one or both of your legs, and even death.

How long does it take to recover from L4-L5 disc removal?

It may take up to 8 weeks to get back to doing your usual activities. Your doctor may advise you to work with a physiotherapist to strengthen the muscles around your spine and trunk. You will need to learn how to lift, twist, and bend so you don't put too much strain on your back.