The spine is one of the most important parts of your body.

The human spine is comprised 24 bones or vertebrae in the cervical (neck) spine, the thoracic (chest) spine, and the lumbar (lower back) spine, plus the sacral bones. 

 Vertebrae are connected by several joints, which allow you to bend, twist, and carry loads. The main joint between two vertebrae is called an intervertebral disc. The disc is comprised of two parts, a tough and fibrous outer layer (annulus fibrosis) and a soft, gelatinous center (nucleus pulposus). These two parts work in conjunction to allow the spine to move, and also provide shock absorption.  

 Each vertebrae has an opening (vertebral foramen) through which a tubular bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve roots travel. From the cervical spine to the mid-lumbar spine this bundle of nerves is called the spinal cord. The bundle is then referred to as the cauda equina through the bottom of the spine. At each level of the spine, spinal nerves exit the spinal cord and cauda equina to both the left and right sides. This enables movement and feeling throughout the body 

 When the gelatinous center of the intervertebral disc pushes out through a tear in the fibrous wall, the disc herniates. This disc herniation adds pressure to the surrounding spinal nerves causing mild to severe pain. It is one of the most common spinal disorders. 

Herniated discs may be caused by simple wear and tear from repeated movement over time or disc degeneration. During the natural aging process, spinal discs lose some of their water content making it difficult to support the load from above vertebrae. Other causes of a herniated disc may include the following: 

• Long standing trauma 
• Hereditary or congenital abnormalities
• Stress fractures 
• A sudden heavy strain or increased pressure 

While a herniated disc can happen at any level of the spine, it most commonly occurs in the lumbar region or lower back. Symptoms of a herniated disc may include: • Pain at the site of injury • Pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the arms or legs • Pain that worsens when bending, twisting, and/or sitting • Muscle spasms In addition to these symptoms, if the herniated disc is located in the cervical spine or neck, symptoms may include: • Loss of bladder control • Loss of coordination • The feeling of heavy limbs • Trouble balancing