|
Herniated disc is a major neurologic problem,
affecting both, canines and humans. Both species can be affected by
cervical (neck) disk disease with similarities in the symptoms and
outcome. However, in the thoracolumbar (mid-back) area, unique species
differences alter the symptoms and outcome of canine versus human disk
disease.
For more information on "canine
herniated disc", read Understanding
Your Pain.
In a herniated disc, part of the disc shifts to a
position that irritates the nearby nerve for that spinal area. The vast
majority of herniated discs occur in the lower back or lumbar region.
This produces symptoms of lower back pain and leg numbing, mid back
pain, pain in the back of head and back and neck pain. For low back pain
treatment, exercises for lower back pain are advised for humans. For
back pain remedy, back pain therapy and back pain medication are used.
Intervertebral
canine herniated disc is usually suspected based on the signalmen
(breed, age, sex), history of appropriate clinical dysfunction, and a
neurologic localization of the cervical or thoracolumbar areas.
Humans
walk upright with most jarring forces being transferred straight up the
spinal column from the legs. Consequently the lumbar intervertebral
disks are at highest risk of injury and possible herniation in humans.
In comparison, dogs walk on all four limbs with jarring forces normally
applied at a right angle to the spinal column. As a result, the most
common site of disk herniation in the back of dogs is this thoracolumbar
junction where the spinal cord is present and is secondarily compressed
by herniated disk material. Thus, the clinical presentation of
thoracolumbar disk herniation in dogs can be far worse than just
shooting pains down the legs. It is common for dogs to show profound
paralysis of their hind limbs from the resulting spinal cord damage.
|