The Most Common Causes Of Annular Tear
An annular tear is a type of tear in which the fibers within the tissue are torn. The outer surface of the ring remains intact, and the inner edge may be frayed according to https://drtonymork.com/back-pain/annular-tear/annular-tears/. The resulting hole can range from one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch wide. In some cases, the entire disc may be pulled apart. If you have experienced any discomfort in your lower back or hip region for no apparent reason, it’s possible that you could have suffered an annular tear.
The strain of bearing our weight and allowing our body to move as we age begins to take a toll on the discs in our spine. Although there are several reasons why annular rips occur, ageing naturally is the most frequent cause. Our discs grow increasingly fragile and dehydrated as we age, leaving them more prone to rips.
Annular tears of the lumbar spine are often caused by repetitive lifting or bending. They can also result from certain types of sports. When the pain starts after strenuous activity, the cause of the tear is most likely trauma. In many cases, the source of the injury is not known, but it occurs more frequently in women than in men. It’s not uncommon for someone who has had an annular tear to suffer another one, so it’s important to seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
Although there are different causes of annular tears, here are the four most common:
- Exercise
- Stress Fracture
- Sports Injury
- Ruptured Disc
- Exercise
A lot of people think that exercise is good for them, but when you’re constantly straining your body, it doesn’t take long before something gives way. If you’ve been exercising regularly for several years without experiencing any problems, you probably don’t need to worry about it. However, if you’ve suddenly started to experience back pain, especially at night, then it’s time to pay closer attention. You might want to consider stopping all physical activities until you consult your physician.
- Stress Fracture
When you first start exercising, it’s best to avoid all movements that put stress on your muscles, bones, ligaments, or joints. It’s not surprising that as soon as you begin to work out, you’ll feel soreness in your muscles and joints, particularly your lower back. A bone fracture (stress fracture) isn’t a serious problem, and it should heal quickly with rest. So if you suspect that you’ve sustained a stress fracture, just continue to rest your back and do nothing else. Your doctor will give you specific instructions regarding how much weight you can lift or how far you can walk or run each day.
- Sports Injury
If an athlete sustains a sports injury during practice or competition, he or she might end up with an annular tear. Injuries like these occur in football players, volleyball players, basketball players, and others who perform a variety of athletic activities. These injuries don’t require a trip to the emergency room; simply ice the affected area for 20 minutes and apply a cold compress as needed. Then, follow your doctor’s orders exactly. Be sure to wear a support belt during treatment. You might even consider wearing a brace.
- Ruptured Disc
When a disc becomes damaged, it loses its ability to hold together the bones that make up the spinal column. This results in a loss of pressure inside the vertebrae, which creates a void between two adjacent discs. Sometimes this gap enlarges over time, allowing fluid to leak out into the surrounding tissues. If the disc is pressed against nerves, then the nerves may get pinched. This can result in pain and numbness down the leg.
In order to determine whether you need surgery, your doctor will need to examine you thoroughly. He will likely order X-rays, MRI scans, and CT scans to see what areas of your spine are involved. Once the diagnosis is made, you’ll undergo conservative treatment. This entails doing everything you can to reduce your pain and keep the disc from rupturing again. You might be asked to stop exercising to prevent further damage to your disc.
Pain medication can help ease your symptoms, and your doctor might recommend physical therapy or chiropractic treatments. Many patients prefer to try acupuncture because it’s said to be less invasive than other methods. Surgery is generally reserved for those individuals whose condition does not improve with noninvasive therapies.
A ruptured disc can lead to a painful and debilitating condition called sciatica. Sciatica refers to pain that radiates down the legs and sometimes into the knees. It’s commonly caused by a protruding disc pressing onto a nerve root. If you can’t find relief for sciatica through conservative treatment, your doctor might refer you to a neurosurgeon.
There are many causes of sciatica, including a herniated disc, bulging disc, degenerative disc disease, and muscle strain. Other conditions can cause sciatica, too, such as spinal stenosis, cervical spondylosis, and osteoarthritis. There is no cure for sciatica, but many doctors recommend medications and physical therapy to treat it.
Sciatica usually responds well to conservative therapy, so you shouldn’t let it discourage you from working out. As always, be careful not to overexert yourself. Always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
It’s important to remember that there’s no risk of developing an annular tear from a low impact workout. Low impact workouts include yoga, Pilates, swimming, water aerobics, and tai chi. All of these exercises help strengthen your core, which helps you maintain proper posture.
For more information about annular tears, visit our website.
This material is designed for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended to be health or medical advice. If you have any questions about a medical condition or your health goals, always see a physician or other trained health expert.
