Disc Protrusions and Herniations
Conditions
Therapies
Introduction To Disc Protrusions & Herniations
A herniated disc refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disc) between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack up to make your spine.
A spinal disc is a lot like a jelly donut, it has a softer center that is encased within a tougher exterior. Sometimes called a slipped disc or a ruptured disc, a herniated disc occurs when some of the softer “jelly” (nucleus pulposus pushes out through a tear in the tougher exterior annular fibers).
A herniated disc can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs. Often times disc herniations seem to occur suddenly but most often are the result of gradual breakdown of the disc and surrounding spinal structures.
The main cause of this gradual breakdown of the disc is through asymmetrical loading of the spine created by curvature loss and abnormal spinal alignment. This asymmetrical loading causes a shift of the “jelly” portion (nucleus pulposus) of the disc creating a concentrated focal pressure on the tougher exterior (annular fibers) which then begins to break down over time.
Symptoms
- Intermittent or continuous neck or back pain
- Spasm of the neck or back muscles
- Sciatica
- Muscle weakness in the arms or legs
- Numbness in the arms, hands, legs or feet
- Pain in the arms, hands, legs or feet
- Decreased reflexes at the biceps, knee or ankle
- Changes in bladder or bowel function
Treatment
- Structural Correction Protocol
- Cryotherapy
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FAQ
Frequently Ask Questions.
In most cases disc herniations can be treated conservatively with chiropractic care and surgical intervention can be avoided.
The nerves that innervate the legs originate from the spinal cord at the level of the lumbar spine (low back) and as a result when irritation to these nerves occur within the lumbar spine, pain is referred from the low back down the leg.
No, if you have changes in the ability to control your bowel or bladder function this could indicate a serious condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome and immediate medical attention is necessary!
Yes, flexion distraction technique uses a specialized table to take pressure off the spinal nerve by creating a negative pressure within the disc. This allows for the disc material to reabsorb back into the spine and alleviate your pain. The flexion and distraction motions of the technique also allows for increased nutrient uptake into the disc keeping it healthy.
Disc Protrusions and Herniations
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What are Disc Protrusions and Herniations?
A disc protrusion may progress to a spinal disc herniation, a condition in which there is a tear in the anulus fibrosus.
Disc Herniations
A herniated disk refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack up to make your spine.
A spinal disk is a little like a jelly donut, with a softer center encased within a tougher exterior. Sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk, a herniated disk occurs when some of the softer “jelly” pushes out through a tear in the tougher exterior.
A herniated disk can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. On the other hand, many people experience no symptoms from a herniated disk. Most people who have a herniated disk don’t need surgery to correct the problem.
Symptoms may include:
- Intermittent or continuous back pain
- Spasm of the back muscles.
- Sciatica
- Muscle weakness in the legs.
- Numbness in the leg or foot.
- Pain in the leg or foot.
- Decreased reflexes at the knee or ankle.
- Changes in bladder or bowel function.
Pain caused by a lumbar herniated disc can seem to occur suddenly, but it is usually the result of a gradual process of breakdown.
A less common cause of lumbar herniated discs is a traumatic injury, such as a fall or car accident. An injury can put so much pressure on a disc in the lower back that it herniates.
Spinal Disc
Intervertebral discs are composed of an annulus fibrosus and a nucleus pulposus.
Nucleus pulposus is the inner core of the vertebral disc and is composed of a jelly-like material that consists of mainly water
Annulus is an outer fibrous layered ring which surrounds the inner gel-like center, the nucleus pulposus.
Disc Facts
- Shock absorber for the spine
- Largest avascular structure in the human body
- Both the nucleus and annulus are comprised of mainly water (88%).
- Spine is composed of 24 movable bones.
- Proper Spinal Alignment is need for proper spinal loading and segmental motion.
- Spinal motion at a segmental level is required to facilitate the fluid circulation and and the cycle of waste and nutrition exchange.
Cause of Spinal Disc Herniation
Asymmetrical loading of the disc as a result of abnormal alignment causes nuclei pulposi to shift creating a concentrated focal pressure to eventually break down the annulus fibers.Decrease motion of the disc and joints preventing hydration and nutrient metabolic waste exchange causing dehydration and tissue degradation.
There are four stages of Disc Herniations
(1) disc protrusion
(2) prolapsed disc
(3) disc extrusion
(4) sequestered disc
Stages 1 and 2 are referred to as incomplete, where 3 and 4 are complete herniations.
Throughout our lives, we have physical stress on our body, some being acute such as falls, traumas, accidents and others which can be chronic such as sitting for long periods, working at a desk for long periods, using computers or phones or even just standing for long periods. These physical stresses may cause us to lose our normal alignment and the spine is placed in a weakened position. At first, this causes no pain but, as the spinal structures are continuously abnormally loaded, they begin to break down leading to spinal damage and eventually the development of pain and functional loss. Asymmetrical loading of the disc as a result of abnormal alignment causes nuclei pulposi to shift, creating a concentrated pressure to eventually break down the annulus fibres. Decreased motion of the disc and joints prevents hydration and nutrient metabolic waste exchange causing dehydration and the development of discopathy (protrusion/ herniation).
