What is a disc injury or a herniated disc?
The intervertebral disc is a structure that is found between 2 vertebral bodies it is a cushion and shock-absorber, so the vertebrae do not rub bone on bone. It is also a spacer which allows the nerve to exit. The disc along with the facet joints allow for the movement and flexibility of the spine.
The disc itself is comprised of outer rings of thick ligamentous fibers called annulus fibrosus, and inner gel called nucleus pulposus.
When the fibers of the annulus begin to weaken, they can no longer contain the gel in the middle. This creates a bulge in the disc. When the bulge is significant, it is referred to as a herniated disc. Other common descriptions include disc bulge, disc prolapse, slipped disc or pinched nerve.
This type of injury can cause significant pain. It can also cause radiations down the leg called sciatica or down the arm called Thoracic outlet syndrome depending on the level at which the herniation happens.
How do you get a herniated disc.
Most disc herniations happen over time. When a vertebra is not in alignment, its movement is not normal. This means that the strain on the disc is not within normal limits. Overloading the disc can cause the annular fibers to tear. When the tearing reaches a certain point, it can no longer contain the nucleus and the symptoms are felt.
Many people will experience symptoms when they are doing a very small movement such as brushing their teeth or bending over to tie their shoe. These activities are not movements which should cause injury, but they are often the last straw to expose the underlying problem.
While it is easy to blame a certain activity for the disc injury, it must be noted that the misalignments of the vertebrae are contributors to the breakdown. These injuries can go unnoticed for a long period of time until, seemingly out of the blue, pain strikes
Treatment for the disc injury.
An effective treatment for the herniated disc is to identify the misalignments and dysfunctions in the vertebral movements. This will decrease the abnormal wear on the annular fibers and allow all the spinal structures to act in a way that they were intended. When each spinal element works as it was designed to work, the breakdown is more even, and a herniated disc episode is less likely.
Acute herniated discs require time and patience but can certainly be treated. Certain chiropractic techniques are excellent to restore proper spinal alignment and nervous system function. Chiropractors are trained to identify and treat disc issues with a high rate of success.