(HealthDay News) -- A herniated disk occurs when a soft pad between the vertebrae of the spine slips out, pressing against nearby nerves and causing pain.
Here are common risk factors, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
- Lifting objects incorrectly.
- Being a smoker.
- Being overweight.
- Applying sudden pressure to the spine.
- Repeated straining of the back muscles.
