Spinal disc herniation – Sydney Chiropractor Andrew Richards discusses how adjustments work

 

A spinal disc herniation is commonly referred to as a slipped disc. This description is quite misleading though as the disc cannot actually slip out of place and therefore your chiropractor cannot put it back in! The disc is actually fused together with the vertebrae on either side. A spinal disc can be squeezed, stretched and twisted in small degrees. It can also be torn, ripped, herniated, and degenerated, but it cannot “slip”.

Going to the chiropractor for adjustments relieves the pressure on the injured disc

The prime focus of your chiropractor is to bring the spine back into alignment with specific adjustments.This aids to relieve pressure and stress upon the injured disc and nervous system thereby allowing the body’s natural healing process to take place.

Some other terms commonly used to describe the condition include prolapsed disc and ruptured disc. Other injuries that are closely related include disc protrusion, pinched nerves, sciatica, disc disease, disc degeneration and degenerative disc disease

The spinal discs have outer fibrous layers (annulus fibrosis) and a softer central portion (annulus pulposus). The central area is softer due to its higher water content. When a disc herniates the outer fibres are torn allowing the centre of the disc to bulge out. It is these bulges that can then go on to compress the spinal cord and nerve roots. Interestingly, even without nerve compression the inflammation associated with a spinal disc herniation of itself cause severe pain. Restoring natural motion as quickly as possible with chiropractic can be one of the best ways to attenuate this inflammatory process.

Despite the fact that most people feel they herniated a disc due to a one off injury this is would be the exception rather than the rule. In most cases there is gradual degenerative change over time with a final blow that takes the injury that very last step.

Too see your chiropractor for the treatment of spinal disc herniation is a valid first port of call. In conjunction with exercises to improve muscle strength and control chiropractic adjustments form the basis of our approach to spinal disc injuries at Better Health.