As a busy woman balancing the demands of work, family, and caring for aging parents, it’s easy to put your own health on the back burner. One of the most common causes of severe back or neck pain is a herniated disc, often called a “slipped disc.” Whether you’re picking up a toddler, helping an elderly parent, or managing a stressful workload, understanding this condition is key to maintaining your own well-being and staying active for those who depend on you.
The so-called ‘slipped disc’, more correctly known as a herniated disc, is one of the most prevalent causes of neck and back pain all over the world, and during the course of one’s life, millions can be afflicted by it. This condition comes about when damaged cushion-like disks between vertebrae allow their inner material to bulge or rupture. This can lead to severe pain, numbness, and debilitating discomfort that may radiate through the arms or legs. More commonly known as a “slipped disc,” an actual misalignment does not occur; rather, it is the fibers within the disc that become weakened or torn. Recognizing the causes, symptoms, and treatment options of disc herniation can help you avoid long-term complications and regain your mobility.
Chiropractic management of herniated (slipped discs) has equal or superior outcomes
in contrast to drugs and surgery for appropriate cases when properly selected.A herniated, or ‘slipped,’ disc occurs when the inner soft material of the spinal disc bulges out through a tear or weakness in the outer fibrous layer. It may press or irritate nearby nerves and give one pain not only in the back but throughout other parts of the body.
Anatomy of the Spinal Disc
Spinal discs are cushion-like structures situated between the vertebrae of the spine. Each disc acts as a shock absorber, providing both flexibility and stability to the spine. The annulus fibrosus consists of firm collagen fibers arranged in a crossing pattern, while the inner part, the nucleus pulposus, is gel-like with a composition mainly of water and proteins, adding compressive and shock-absorbing features to the disc. Discs are strongly attached to the upper and lower vertebrae. With its fiber arrangement, the annulus fibrosus enables the disc to bear substantial mechanical stress in daily activities, such as lifting, twisting, or bending. However, over a period, repetitive stress or injuries might lead to weakening of the fibers, causing herniation or bulging of the disc.
Common Locations of Disc Herniation
The most common sites of disc herniation are the lumbar spine, commonly referred to as the lower back, and the cervical spine-or neck. More specifically, the last two discs within the lumbar region, L4 and L5, are the ones affected most often. These are weight-bearing disks supporting the body and, thus, are under a great amount of stress when lifting heavy objects or even when sitting for long hours. Regarding the cervical spine, the most common levels involved with disc herniation are between C5 and C6. However, cervical disc herniations tend to be less debilitating than in the lumbar spine and, although painful and uncomfortable, do not tend to cause significant impairment of function. Many lumbar herniations result in a quite debilitating condition called sciatica, which includes pain radiating down the leg and into the foot that is severely debilitating for most mobility and daily function.
Symptoms of Slipped Disc
Symptoms of slipped or herniated disc vary according to the location and level or degree of the herniation. When the herniated disc compresses or otherwise irritates a nearby nerve root, symptoms may include pain in other locations besides the local back pain. Some of the most common symptoms include the following:
• Lower Back Pain: The pain in the lower back, especially at the level of L4-L5 with a lumbar disc herniation, is one of the major symptoms.
• Radicular Pain: A herniated disc may irritate or compress the contained sciatic nerve in the lumbar region, allowing conduction of radiating pain down the leg and into the foot; this is known as sciatica.
• Neck and Arm Pain: Cervical disc herniations can result in radiating pain to the shoulders, arms, and hands, although symptoms are often less dramatic compared to lumbar herniations.
• Numbness and Tingling: Compression may also produce numbness or tingling in the regions supplied by the nerves that are affected.
• Muscle Weakness: In severe cases, the compressed nerves can then cause weakness in the muscles of the legs or arms, which in turn impairs mobility and fine motor skills.
Diagnosis: Imaging and Clinical Assessment
Diagnosis of a slipped or herniated disc is by clinical examination and diagnostic imaging. MRI is the gold standard examination to confirm herniation and provides highly detailed images of the spinal discs and nerves surrounding them; it can show the site and size of a herniation and whether the adjacent nerves are compressed. Other diagnostic tools, such as X-rays or CT scans, may be used to rule out other causes of back pain, but they do not provide the same level of detail about soft tissues, such as spinal discs. Sometimes, tests such as nerve conduction studies or electromyography, termed EMG, are conducted to measure the function of the nerves affected.
Chiropractic Care for Slipped Disc
The idea of a surgery and medication makes many individuals antsy, and so chiropractic care is one of the most common alternatives to these methods. Spinal adjustments and specialized disc decompression procedures done by the chiropractor will manage to very carefully move the spine into place, taking much of the tension off of your injured discs, especially in the application to the lumbar and cervical regions, demonstrating a reduction of pain and an improvement in function in those patients with herniated discs. They may also advise on modification of lifestyle, ergonomic adjustments, and exercises as prevention of future damage to the discs.
Prevention
While some of the influencing factors in disc herniation, such as aging and genetic proclivity, are beyond one’s control, much can still be done to lessen one’s risk:
• Keep weight down: Excess body weight puts added pressure on the lower back that increases the risk for disc herniation.
• Practice good posture: Good alignment in sitting, standing, and lifting reduces stresses on the spine.
• Stay Active: Regular activities and exercises, particularly those that strengthen the core muscles, help significantly in strengthening the spine against any insult and injury.
At the end of the day, taking care of your health allows you to show up fully for the people you love—whether that’s your spouse, children, or aging parents. A herniated disc can have a significant impact on one’s quality of life; it is worth noting, however, that with proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment, most individuals can attain relief and recover properly. It is important to be treated for a slipped disc as soon as possible, either by conservative methods such as chiropractic care, or with surgery in extreme cases, in order to avoid a life of chronic pain or nerve damage.
References:
1. For more detailed “information on sciatica” you can explore https://www.nwrehab.ca
2. Cleveland Clinic. “Herniated Disc.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12768-herniated-disk
3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “Herniated Disk Fact Sheet.” https://www.ninds.nih.gov