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Disc Injuries and Disc Treatment at Monmouth Spine & Rehabilitation Center, Red Bank New Jersey

What is a Spinal Disc?

We have twenty four vertebrae that make up our spine. In between each of the vertebrae we have what are called discs. These discs are made up of a gel-like material with a center that is called a nucleus pulposis. When we are born until about the age of 10 the material inside the disc is about 80% water. As we age, this percentage lessens to about 20% by the time we reach our later years. This is the actual reason why people will lose height as they age. The disc has no blood supply. The disc does have a nerve supply and this becomes the underlying cause of pain caused from the disc.

Types of Disc Problems and Injuries

A disc becomes injured by physical trauma to the area. This physical trauma can come in the form of microtraumas such as poor posture or macrotraumas such as auto accidents. Let’s use the exam of auto accidents. During a automobile accident the spine is often traumatized. This event can cause injury in the form of whiplash to the neck and/or back. When the spine becomes injured, the discs in between each of the vertebrae can become damaged. The disruption of the integrity of the nucleus inside the disc is the underlying cause of pain for many back pain sufferers and all disc injuries.

During the injury, the center nucleus shifts backward (posteriorly) out toward the spinal cord and nerve root. The reason it shifts backward is due to the fact that the ligaments on the back part of the vertebrae are not as strong as the ligaments in front of the spine. When the disc shifts backward it can move into the spinal canal which houses the spinal cord and can actually compress the cord. A severe example of this is what you see when one becomes paralyzed after what is called a spinal cord injury.

To add insult to injury, after the disruption of the integrity of the disc, additional nerve endings are created by the body in the outer 1/3 of the disc material. These additional nerve endings are created to inform the brain constantly that the injury exists so that the individual will respond to it. Unfortunately, these additional nerve endings create more pain. The longer one goes with an untreated injury, the more intense the pain can become.

Disc injuries are classified based on their severity.

Disc injuries are classified based on how far back they move from their space between the vertebrae.

I. Disc Bulge – This the first level of severity

II. Disc Herniation – This is the second level and indicates that the center nucleus moved more significantly backward toward the spinal cord

III. Disc Dessication – This is when the disc is so severely injured that a part of it fragments from the rest of the disc. This often times leads to immediate surgery.

Symptoms of Disc Injuries

Pain is the primary symptom associated with a disc injury. Additionally, one can experience any number of symptoms including leg pain, numbness in the thigh or leg, muscle weakness in the foot, leg or thigh, and many others. If one experiences bowel or bladder dysfunction, they should seek immediate emergency medical treatment.

The disc injury can create a multitude of symptoms. The reason for this is twofold. First the additional nerve endings in the disc send continue signals to the brain which elicit pain. Second, mechanical compression onto the nerves that exit from the spine often occurs. The key nerve often involved is the sciatic nerve. Compression onto the sciatic nerve can lead to many of the symptoms previously discussed and can also create significant disability.

Conventional Medical Treatment of Disc Injuries

Conventional treatment of Disc Injuries typically includes pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication and muscle relaxers. Epidural injections can also be used as a power anti-inflammatory injected around the nerve root to reduce swelling around the nerve. Surgery is also a traditional form of medical treatment.

Treatment of Disc Injuries at Monmouth Spine and Rehabilitation Center in Red Bank New Jersey

Monmouth Spine and Rehabilitation works to NATURALLY restore the integrity of the disc through various forms of structural and functional rehabilitation. Additionally, we work naturally with the pain through gentle chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage and physical therapy.

Monmouth Spine and Rehabilitation utilized spinal decompression traction for the neck and lower back. This treatment is proven to be effective for pain and even to reduce disc bulges and herniations.

If you would like a consultation to discuss whether or not you are a candidate for treatment at Monmouth Spine and Rehabilitation, contact us immediately.