One of the most common treatments that we provide at TriMed Spine & Joint is that of disc injuries. The intervertebral discs are a prevalent source of lower back pain as they are one of the most frequently injured spinal structures. The discs connect adjacent spinal vertebrae together and provide a degree of shock absorption.
You know that you have a spine. Well, at least you hope you do. But, did you know that you have a spinal column? Do you know what your spinal column is?
The spinal column is a collection of 24 vertebrae plus the sacral bone. These bones provide support and mobility for the torso while also protecting the nervous system.
There are four distinct and different regions of the spinal column. They are the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. Each contains a different number of vertebrae that are structurally unique. These structural variations make certain regions of the spinal column more flexible while making other regions more stable and less susceptible to injury.
When viewed from the rear of the spine, it appears vertically straight. When viewed from the side, however, four separate spinal curvatures should be present. Both the cervical and lumbar regions naturally have a “C” shaped curvature, while the thoracic and sacral regions possess a reversed “C” shaped curvature. The angles of these curves play a crucial role in minimizing spinal biomechanical stresses which lead to spinal pain and greatly accelerated spinal degenerative processes.
The chiropractic doctor is an expert in spinal evaluation and rehabilitation. He or she is trained to identify even the slightest spinal abnormalities. Eliminating pain, inflammation, and biomechanical stresses while increasing overall health and quality of life is what chiropractic care is all about.
Doctors of chiropractic are the only health care professionals whose primary training centers around the detection, treatment, and rehabilitation of spinal column disorders.
Now you know a little bit more about your spine. Come down to Royal Chiropractic Chiropractic and Wellness as we do our best to provide a top-notch and quality chiropractic service. Our friendly and knowledgeable office can figure out your spinal issue, and why your back or neck hurts and help you find a fix ASAP.
Please take this information about these myths and share it with others. Thank you for visiting the site. If you need chiropractic care, help with spinal decompression, looking for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or interventional pain management contact us at one of our several South Florida offices.
in the torso.
Disc Structure
The structure of the spinal disc resembles a jelly-filled doughnut. The inner aspect of the disc contains a gel-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. Surrounding the nucleus are tough fibrocartilagenous fibers called annulus fibrosis. These annular fibers contain the inner nuclear material similar to a basketball skin containing the air within.
Causes of Disc Injury
Disc injury occurs when the annular fibers of the disc are torn. Because the inner regions of the annulus lack “pain” innervation, injuries contained to the inner annulus occur without one’s knowledge.
Common causes of annular disc tears include:
- uncorrected spinal misalignments
- prolonged sitting
- poor postural habits
- poor lifting habits
- improper workstation setup and ergonomics
- improper lifting techniques
- extended periods of vibratory forces
The Three Main Types of Disc Injuries
The first disc injury consists of annular fiber tears which do not extend to the outer aspects of the disc. Thus, the inner nuclear material is prevented from completely escaping the disc.
The second type of disc injury, commonly referred to as a disc herniation, consists of annular tears which run from the innermost aspects of the annulus (where the nucleus is) to the outermost aspects of the annulus. In this type of injury, the pressurized nuclear material can squeeze through the tears in the annulus and escape to the outside of the disc. When this occurs, the nuclear material may come in contact with nearby spinal nerves and even the spinal cord.
In the third type of disc injury, referred to as a disc bulge, the inner nucleus loses hydration; common in those with prolonged spinal stress and the elderly. This results in “bulging” of the disc much like a tire “bulges” when it contains inadequate amounts of air. Similar to the previous injury, the nearby spinal nerves and spinal cord may become impinged from the bulging disc.
The Symptoms of Disc Injuries
The symptoms of disc injury depend upon the location of the disc tears and whether or not the spinal nerves or spinal cord are affected.
When tearing of the annulus occurs within its inner portion only, generally, pain is not experienced. As previously stated, this is because the inner regions of the annulus lack pain receptors. When tearing of the annulus occurs in the outer annular fibers, mild to excruciating pain is felt in a generalized manner. If a lumbar disc is affected, for instance, diffuse low back pain with associated paraspinal muscle spasm is typical.
When numerous partial tears coalesce to form tears that run clear through the thickness of the annulus, the gel-like nucleus is able to escape the disc. If a spinal nerve or the spinal cord is contacted the individual may experience symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling and/or weakness within either or both lower extremities. In rare cases patients may lose the ability to control bowel and bladder functions. If this occurs, immediate medical intervention is required as the condition can become permanent.
The Treatment of Disc Injuries
Disc injuries respond favorably to chiropractic care. This is because chiropractic treatments focus on the dysfunctional spinal segments and not just the symptoms of the disc injury. Pain killers, anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants do nothing to treat the cause of disc injuries and have been shown to induce further injury.
Chiropractic treatments provide fast, effective, safe, and long-lasting relief from disc injuries. This is because the chiropractor’s approach focuses on restoring spinal alignment, spinal function, and overall spinal health, which are the primary factors responsible for the development of disc injuries.
Chiropractic doctors are experts in maintaining proper spinal alignment and function, both of which play a critical role in minimizing spinal stresses – the stresses that are responsible for injury and accelerated degenerative processes in spinal discs.
Hopefully, with this information, you are now more well-informed on the seriousness of disc structure and injury. At Royal Chiropractic Chiropractic and Wellness as we do our best to provide a top-notch and quality chiropractic service for disc problems as well as so much more. Our friendly and knowledgeable office can figure out your spinal issue, and why your back or neck hurts and help you find a fix ASAP.
Please take this information about these myths and share it with others. Thank you for visiting the site. If you need chiropractic care, help with spinal decompression, looking for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or interventional pain management contact us at one of our several South Florida offices.
