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 put on it, 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

Although our discs have that tough outer layer, over time and without the proper care they can become weaker and damaged more easily.  A weakened disc is more susceptible to injury, which can lead to a disc disorder.

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.

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the outer layer of a disc (usually a herniated one) becomes too weak and gets a tear.  When the disc tears, the fluid-like interior can leak out, irritating the surrounding nerves.  The interior of the disc contains a chemical which is harmful to your nerves.  When the chemical gets on the nerves, it causes them to swell, causing even more irritation.  Not only do you have the swollen nerves, but now you also have the remains of this torn disc pressing against them.  When the disc tears, it is also becoming thinner as it loses its interior, leading to disc degeneration and thinning discs.

Thinning Disc

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 spine’s 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.

What are the Causes of Disc Disorders?

A disc disorder can be caused by many things.  When your spine is not in good shape, due to lack of exercise and proper nutrition, simple movements like bending over to pick something up can cause a disc injury.  The important thing to remember is that the healthier your spine and discs are, the less likely they are to get injured.  Prevention is really key when it comes to the health of your spine.  However, even the healthiest spine can be injured under the right circumstances, such as a severe car accident or a sports-related injury.

How Can Chiropractic Help?

The great thing about chiropractic is that its main goal is to prevent any of these conditions from happening in the first place!  Too often, a common symptom such as low back pain or headaches will be ignored, or pain relievers may be taken to mask the pain.  The pain you are experiencing is your body trying to tell you something is wrong!  Seeing your chiropractor on a regular basis can help ensure that your spine, and the discs that help support it, stay as healthy as possible so you can too.  Don’t wait until you have a serious problem like a degenerated disc to see your chiropractor.  It is much easier to maintain the health of your spine than it is to regain it.