Disc Injury

Vertebral Disc Injury

The vertebral discs are the soft tissue between each spinal segment. They are made out of collagen fibres and have a centre called a nucleus which has very soft texture. The disc has two main roles in the body, it both acts as a shock absorber and gives space for the spinal nerves to exit to control all the functions of the body. When the outer fibres of the disc tear it can lead to the disc bulging. This bulge may also impact on the spinal nerves causing referred pain to a particular area of the body. If the disc ruptures completely and the contents come out it is called a herniation. Some of the disc material may also detach and impact on the nerves, causing a variety of different symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling and weakness in muscles.

What are the causes?

Disc injuries occur due to compression and rotational movements of the disc under a specific load. This happens when someone lifts and twists, particularly activities done away from the body. This can also occur over time with repetitive movements, during lifting when something is too heavy or an unexpected load is present and commonly when a very minor event occurs. An example of this is simply bending down to pick up a light object off the ground and triggering the disc injury. This is also most notable in the morning as the disc has more fluid and is much tighter so more vulnerable to injury. Another common factor for disc injuries is those individuals who have an occupation which requires prolonged sitting with bad posture.

How can we help?

Your chiropractor will perform a full spinal examination in order to assess for spinal joint dysfunction and particularly disc inflammation or herniation and any associate nerve symptoms. Chiropractic treatment aims to correct biomechanical issues that may be associated with a disc injury and to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms and pain that’s related the affected intervertebral disc. Treatment outcomes are dependent on many factors such as, how long the problem has been there, the amount of wear and tear (degeneration) present, whether there is referred pain, posture, occupational stress and social stresses all have an impact on the outcome.

To discuss your Disc injury please feel free to use our Contact Form or Call us on 0736660633. To make an appointment now use the Online Booking tab below.

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