Understanding The Anatomy of Your Herniated Disc

The bone that supports your back is known as the backbone or spine. It has 33 bones or vertebrae. Between each vertebrae are spongy-like discs which prevent the bones from rubbing against each other and serving as a shock absorber. This is where the problem of a herniated disc begins. It is more commonly called a slipped disc, even if technically, your disc does not move.

Inside each disc is a substance known as nucleus pulposus and the outer part is known as the annulus fibrosus. With the disc and the spinal bones, we have the housing for the spinal nerves and the spinal cord. Our spinal nerves can be found at the center and branches out to different parts of the body. This will explain a little why when there is a problem with the spine, a person can be paralyzed. The spinal bones, spinal nerves, and the spinal cord are vital for our body.

Naturally, there are other parts in your spine like the blood cells, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The ligaments connect the bones together while the muscles are used to help us move. Tendons connect these muscles to our bones and to the discs. The blood is our life. It brings nourishment and nutrients to different parts of our body, including the back.

A herniated disc, also known as a bulging disc, happens when the covering of the disc, the annulus fibrosus breaks open and the inside substance starts to bulge out. You will feel mild spinal pain to intense spinal pain, if or when this substance touches any part of a spinal nerve. This will partially explain the term, slipped disc - something is slipping out of the ordinary.

Many times, people go about without even knowing they have a bulging disc because there is no pain. If they’re lucky, the body will just heal on its own. It is possible that the condition is discovered by accident, when the doctor is diagnosing a different problem.

Statistically, more men than women get to experience herniated disc because they are more active physically, carry heavier loads, and have a tendency to over-exert their bodies.

The herniated disc treatment will involve 6 different methods that can be used alone or in combination. These herniated disc treatments are chiropractic treatment, exercise, drugs, alternative or herbal, and surgery. There is now a new herniated disc treatment that has been introduced which involves relaxation techniques. With the growing number of North Americans suffering from back and neck pain due to stress and a bad lifestyle, there is now a concerted effort to stem the tide, and start promoting healthy living with proper nutrition, sleeping habits, posture, and less toxins and pollutants.