A slipped disc is the common name for a prolapsed or herniated disc. This condition occurs when the outer casing of one of the discs of cartilage that acts as a cushion between the bones of the backbone ruptures and allows the gel inside to bulge outwards from between the vertebrae.
A slipped disc occurs most frequently in the lumbar region (the lower back), but any disc can rupture, including those in the neck and upper back. It may develop as a result of strain caused by lifting or if the spine is jarred in a fall, and is more common in old age as the discs dry up and shrink.
This section takes a closer look at the causes and symptoms of slipped discs, and finds out how they may be diagnosed and treated.
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