Disc Herniation

Your spine is made up of 24 vertebrae that each have an intervertebral disc between them. These discs act as shock absorbers of the spine and carry the load as you move through space.  

A disc herniation refers to disruption of annular fibers and the subsequent displacement of the nuclear material within the disc. These annular fibers are fibrocartilaginous rings that help to keep the nucleus pulposus contained in the center. This may result in radicular symptoms from inflammatory/ chemical irritation or true mechanical compression of the nerve roots. Ensuing symptoms include pain, paresthesia, numbness or weakness in the distribution of the affected nerve root.

The nucleus of the disc is actually “foreign” material to your immune system, so it attacks it, and produces the inflammation response. This pain may be worse in the morning when you get up. This is because the disc’s rehydrate at night and expand. This expansion can push on the affected nerve root as you sleep. Then, when you get up from a lying position the disc pressure increases and subsequent pain ensues.  

Mechanical risk factors that make you more susceptible to a disc herniation include: sedentary lifestyle, driving motorized vehicles, smoking, previous full term pregnancy, and increased BMI.  

Genetic factors and aging also play a role in disc herniations. As you age the discs lose height and the nuclear material begins to dehydrate. Since there is less nuclear material there is less material to cause a herniation. Symptomatic herniations occur most frequently in the 4th and 5th decades of life. The condition is uncommon in children. Approximately 35-45% of adults will experience a disc herniation within their lifetime.    

If you experience a disc herniation there are several techniques we can use to try and help you.  The best technique for this condition that we do is Cox Flexion Distraction. This technique has been proven to decrease disc pressure and open up the intervertebral foramen to get pressure off the nerve root.  We can teach you simple directional preference exercises to be done at home to help self manage too. 

We can also help modify things you are doing at home to help you move, sleep, and sit with less disc herniation pain.