A herniated disc are is called protruding, bulging, ruptured, prolapsed, slipped, torn or degenerated discs. There are fine distinctions between these terms, but all really refer to a disc that is no longer in its normal condition and/or position. Herniated discs cause pain by impinging on (intruding upon, irritating, and pinching) and even injuring nerves in the spinal column.

The 24 vertebrae of your spine are separated from one another by pads of cartilage called discs. These discs have a fairly tough outer layer with a soft interior to cushion against the shocks and strains experienced as you move and put various stresses on your spine. The discs are subject to injury, disease, and degeneration with use over time. Certain activities and types of work increase the risk of discs being damaged or deteriorating. When the soft interior material of a disc pushes out through a tear or weakening in the outer covering, the disc is said to be herniated.

What are some of the typical symptoms of herniated discs?

Most disc herniation takes place in the lower back (lumbar spine). The second most common site of herniation is the neck (cervical spine). A herniated lumbar disc can send pain shooting down through your buttock and thigh into the back of your leg (sciatica). Cervical disc herniation causes pain in the shoulder, arm, and hand. Herniated discs can cause muscle weakness, make it hard to get up when you've been sitting or lying down, cause pain when you strain to do something, even when you cough or sneeze. They sometimes produce pain in the lower right side of the abdomen. Herniated discs can also affect nerves to the bladder and bowel, causing incontinence. This symptom signals the need for immediate, emergency attention.

Herniated Disc Diagnosis

A patient with a herniated disc will usually complain of low back pain that may or may not radiate into different parts of the body. They will often demonstrate a limitation in range of motion when asked to bend forward or lean backwards,and they might lean to one side as they try to bend forward.

Patients will sometimes walk with an "antalgic" or painful gait, flexing the affected leg so as not to put too much weight on the side of the body that hurts. Straight leg raising can be positive indicating tension on the nerve root.

Abnormalities in the strength and sensation of particular parts of the body that are found with a neurological examination performed by a doctor provide the most objective evidence of nerve root compression. There are no laboratory tests that can detect the presence or absence of a herniated disc.
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What can chiropractic do?

There is broad acceptance among health care professionals and the public of the recommendation that the pain from herniated discs be initially treated conservatively. That is, as long as there are no signs (such as severe pain, numbness, or functional impairment from nerve involvement) of the need for more invasive treatment, two or three months of chiropractic care would be the best choice before considering to spinal surgery or shots of analgesics (painkillers) in your back. And only a minority of disc herniations turn out to require treatment as traumatic and costly as hospitalization and surgery or with as many side effects (especially for older people) as opioid analgesics and muscle relaxants.

A chiropractor will examine and question you carefully, take a complete history, and conduct appropriate diagnostic tests. He or she will focus on exactly what symptoms you've been suffering and determine which parts of your spine are the likely cause of your pain and loss of function. Chiropractic provides the special training, techniques, and experience needed to safely and effectively adjust your spine so that the stress on the discs is minimized, the pain relieved, the damaged or displaced structures given a chance to heal, and your ability to return to normal functioning restored.

Remember, help is near to home. If you are concerned about your health or considering care for a herniated disc. At MyHealth here in Mississauga you can count on us. We look forward to evaluate your health and offer you the best treatment or alternatives. We are conveniently located in Streetsville Village in Mississauga.

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