Eli5: What happens when you “throw your back out”? Why does it seem to happen easier as you get older?

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You know, you reach down to close the cupboard, and Whamo. Shooting pain, inability to stand straight up without holding on to something. What is happening?

In: Biology

8 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Pressure from a weakening disc is causing a bulge which is pushing on the nerve root. As we age, natural disc desiccation occurs. These are commonly referred to as slipped discs, although they have not actually slipped.

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