Understanding Disc Pain

If you have lower back pain that keeps returning, or your low back pain extends further down your leg and into your foot, perhaps it’s an indicator that you have a slipped disc. Known as a herniated disc, the pain caused by this condition can be dire and, in some cases, crippling.

Pain Brought On By a Herniated Disc.

Having a slipped disc can be very unpleasant. In some cases, symptoms will go away in 6 weeks or less. This is the case in about 90% of herniated disc cases.

If your disc pain lasts longer than 6 weeks, or keeps recurring over a period of several months or years, this could be an indication that it may not go away by itself. Other treatment options, including gentle, non-surgical spinal decompression treatment, should then be thought about.

 

What Triggers Discs to Slip?

Your spine is composed of a chain of bones known as the vertebrae. The front portion of each individual vertebrae is called the vertebral body. Between each vertebrae are soft spinal discs that have a hard, multilayered casing and a gel-like center, called the nucleus pulposus.

These discs are what enable the spine to be flexible and let us lean forward or turn our upper body back and forth. Our discs also absorb impacts that are transferred to the spine while running or jumping, for example.

When you have a slipped disc, it means that one of the spinal discs is bulging beyond the edges of the vertebral bodies that are above and below it. There are three types of slipped discs:

  • Prolapsed Disc— This means the disc is bulging out between the vertebrae, but the disc’s outermost layer is still whole.
  • Extruding Disc— This means there is a tear in the outer layer of the spinal disc, which is causing the spinal disc tissue to leak out. The tissue that has come out remains connected to the disc.
  • Sequestration— This is one of the most serious kind of slipped disk. In this particular instance, the spinal disc tissue has entered into the spinal canal and is no longer directly connected to the disc.

 

While all three types of herniated discs can be extremely painful, most people suffering from a slipped disc can receive relief through gentle, non-surgical spinal decompression treatment.

You should absolutely consider seeking treatment from one of our medical professionals if you are experiencing recurrent disc pain and you believe you may have a slipped disc.

By gently manipulating the spine to make sure that it returns to its normal state, our team of spinal disc doctors can help relieve the pressure caused by your slipped disc and provide instant relief to your back pain.

Contact us today for your consultation if you or somebody you know is suffering from disc pain as the result of a slipped disc. Our expert spinal disc practitioner can tell you if gentle, non-surgical spinal decompression treatment is a good option for treating your pain.

 

Call Peninsula RSI Chiropractic Wellness Center at (650) 599-9868 Today to Schedule Your Consultation!