Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsFunctionCausesTreatmentHealing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Function
Causes
Treatment
Healing
An annular fissure is adiscogeniccondition that affects the spine and can cause lower back pain. It usually happens when the fibers that make up the annulus—the tough outer covering of the intervertebral disc—either break or separate.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Annular Fissure Symptoms
Most annular fissures are asymptomatic, but some may cause inflammation and become symptomatic. Symptoms may include the following:
These symptoms can also be similar to aherniated disc(a possible complication of an annular fissure). Studies have demonstrated that annular tears and herniated discs are often asymptomatic and an incidental finding on imaging, but should be considered as potential differential diagnoses in lower back pain patients.
Annulus Fiber Function
The annulus is made of several concentric layers of tough fibers (fibrocartilage) that surround, contain, and protect the soft, liquid nucleus inside the disc.
The layers of theannulus fibrosuscrisscross each other to provide a “scaffolding” of support.
The design makes the covering of the disc strong enough to hold the liquid nucleus material inside it. Its strength also allows the disc to buffer the jolts and jars it gets exposed to whenever you move your spine.
Annular Fissure Causes
“Annular tear” is not the standard phrase that providers use to describe or diagnose an annular fissure.
Degenerative changes in your spine are normal but there are factors that may influence the progression of these wear-and-tear changes such as; posture, repetitive movements (i.e. bending, twisting, lifting), smoking, excess body weight,
Annular Fissure Treatment
While a severe annular fissure is not likely to get better without treatment, a mild annular fissure may heal on its own and is likely asymptomatic. However, once an area has been torn, it is more vulnerable to re-injury in the future..
Conservative treatment for an annular fissure is usually enough to control pain and symptoms, if any.
Anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy are the first lines of treatment.Pain medication can be either over-the-counter or prescription.
Physical therapy treatment for annular fissures includes exercises, traction, and other therapies.
If symptoms persist after conservative treatment, your provider may suggest asteroid injectionto reduce the inflammation or a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to stimulate tissue healing and regeneration.
In severe cases, surgery may be explored, includingdisc replacement surgery. On its own, having an annular tear is not a reason to have disc replacement surgery. It is only when there are degenerative changes in the vertebral disc that surgery might be necessary.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Lower Back Problems?It can take three to six months to recover from degenerative disc problems if you’re doing a standard treatment plan that includes rest, low-impact therapy exercises, and anti-inflammatory treatments.However, you may have lower back pain that keeps coming back (recurring). Strengthening your core and back could help reduce future problems.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Lower Back Problems?
It can take three to six months to recover from degenerative disc problems if you’re doing a standard treatment plan that includes rest, low-impact therapy exercises, and anti-inflammatory treatments.However, you may have lower back pain that keeps coming back (recurring). Strengthening your core and back could help reduce future problems.
It can take three to six months to recover from degenerative disc problems if you’re doing a standard treatment plan that includes rest, low-impact therapy exercises, and anti-inflammatory treatments.
However, you may have lower back pain that keeps coming back (recurring). Strengthening your core and back could help reduce future problems.
How to Heal From Annular Fissure
To prevent and slow the progression of degeneration, it is important to be aware of everyday habits that may lead to wear and tear on your spine.
Simple, low-impact exercises that target your core, back, and pelvic girdle muscles help stabilize the discs in the lower back and reduce pressure on the spine, which can, in turn, prevent the occurrence of annular fissures.
Practicing proper posture, maintaining a weight that supports your health, lifting heavy objects correctly, and quitting smoking are also important for protecting your spine.
Correcting poor posture habits and overall body mechanics takes time and consistent effort, but it can be simplified and individualized in a way that makes it easy for you to do.
Activities you might try include:
These activities help with muscle balance and joint alignment—key prevention strategies that physical therapists use when they work with people who need help with spinal problems.
Summary
Management of symptoms is typically conservative and starts with making lifestyle changes and starting low-impact exercises. If you are experiencing pain it is important to work with your physical therapist or medical provider to determine the exact cause and course of treatment.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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