DISC DISORDERS

What is a Disc?

A disc is the pillow-like pad that separates each of the vertebrae in your spine.  These discs are tough on the outside with a softer, gel-like interior.  This cushiony design allows your spine to endure the everyday stresses and pressures that are put on it.  They are like built-in shock absorbers for your body! Without them, our vertebrae would rub against each other causing a lot of pain and reduced mobility.  Imagine hitting a pot hole in your car if you didn't have shock absorbing springs!

Common Disc Disorders:

Herniated disc (a.k.a. Prolapsed, Slipped, or Ruptured disc), Bulging disc, and Degenerative disc disease.

These types are usually caused through degeneration, wear and tear, and trauma of the fibrous tissue constraining the soft disc material. 

Symptoms:

-- Back pain

-- Leg pain

-- Paraesthesia - numbness and tingling

-- Incontinence -- the inability to contain, restrain, or control bowel and bladder movement.

-- Leg weakness

Statistics:

♦ 1 in 32 people has a disc disorder.

♦ Disc Disorders are frequently linked to spinal trauma usually associated with auto accidents, head injuries, sports accidents, and falls.

Causes:

A disc disorder can be caused by many things.  When your spine is not in good shape, due to lack of exercise and poor nutrition, simple movements like bending over to pick something up can cause a disc injury.  Prevention is the key when it comes to the health of your spine.  However, even the healthiest spines can be injured under the right circumstances, such as a car accident or a sports-related injury.

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the outer layer of a disc becomes weakened and gets a tear.  When the disc tears, the fluid-like interior can leak out, irritating the surrounding nerves.  As it continues tearing, it also becomes thinner as it loses its interior, leading to disc degeneration and degenerative arthritis.

Over time a degenerated or damaged disc will thin out, leaving much less space between the two vertebrae it was once separating.  When this happens, you lose a lot of your spines' ability to absorb the shocks and stresses.  If the disc gets too thin, your vertebrae will actually rub against each other, leading to painful bone spurs that constantly press on the nerves and restrict your movement.

Bulging Disc

The bulging disc is much like a bump or bubble on the disc.  The disc has a "bulge" which can press on the surrounding nerves, irritating them and causing pain.  This bump puts the outer layer of the disc under a lot of pressure, which can cause the disc to tear.  If a bulging disc is not treated properly the disc may tear and the gel-like interior can leak out onto the surrounding nerves.  The most common areas for a bulging disc are the cervical (neck) region and the lumbar (low back) region.

Chiropractic Treatment:

Alignment of the spine helps to correct the straining and pressure it puts on the discs.  It can prevent further injury to the affected vertebrae and muscles surrounding it.  It can also prevent you from receiving spinal surgeries which, in the end, will save you money and are more efficient and beneficial to your body's health.  Seeing your favorite chiropractor on a regular basis can help ensure that your spine, and the discs that support it, stay as healthy as possible so you can too.  Don't wait until you have a serious problem like degenerative disc disease to see your chiropractor.

It is much easier to maintain the health of your spine than it is to regain it.