Pain from spinal disc injuries is becoming rampant in the young and aging population of San Antonio. In the article we are going to discuss:
- What are spinal discs
- What types of problems do spinal discs have
- How to heal spinal discs
- How to keep your discs healthy
What are spinal discs?
Spinal discs are the cushions between your vertebrae that act as shock absorbers. Each disc is made of a rough fibrous outer layer called the annulus fibrosis and a jelly-like inner layer known as the nucleus pulposus. The annulus layer protects the nucleus layer. Both layers are made mostly of water and have very little blood supply. They use motion as a pumping mechanism to stay hydrated and healthy.
What types of problems do spinal discs have?
There are 2 main problems that occur at the spinal discs: disc bulge and disc herniation
A disc bulge is when is when the outer fibrous layer is pushed outward. Sometimes this bulge can contact spinal nerves and cause pain at the areas this nerve travels. A herniation is when the soft nucleus layer is pushed out beyond the outer fibrous layer. This is a more severe problem as the nucleus layer causes inflammation at the spinal layer and can cause increased pain, numbness, weakness, or tenderness at the areas the spinal nerve travels.
How to heal spinal discs?
To heal your spinal discs, you must support them and make sure they are moving properly. Spinal discs fail due to excess forces. So, if we are bending and/or lifting and that force is supported mostly by the discs and not shared with other body structures, disc injury will occur. Therefore, it is important to strengthen your core so that these muscles, ligaments, and tendons will share the load. It is also important to stay active. Remember the spinal discs are made of mostly water and have little blood supply. Movement allows your discs to pump water in and out which keeps them hydrated and health. Chiropractic adjustments are your first step to heal spinal discs. When a joint is stuck, it does not move well. A joint that does not move well cannot pump and absorb nutrients. Chiropractic adjustments help keep sticky joints moving so they can maintain their hydration. The next step is Spinal Decompression. Spinal DecompressioYn uses a gently force to help pump the water back into the discs and “suck it” the herniation. This will help to prevent any progression of the herniation recurring injuries.
How to keep your discs healthy.
The key to spinal disc maintenance is movement, movement, movement. Discs require movement to absorb nutrients that keep them healthy. If you are a desk or sedentary worker remind yourself to stand up once an hour. This is also a good opportunity to get a drink of water which will also keep your disc healthy. We also advise you to maintain regular exercise as this will help you keep your core strong and relieve pressure on your discs.
Spinal discs are important pieces of our overall health and function. Maintaining them can be an easy task if you are willing to make small changes in your daily routine. If you have any questions or concerns about the condition of your spinal discs, please schedule a time for us to evaluate you. We’re happy to help.