Spinal Decompression For Bulging / Herniated Discs
What Is A Bulging or Herniated Disc?
Bulging, or herniated discs in the low back can be extremely painful.
Although the term "slipped disc" is sometimes used, the discs are very firmly attached to the spinal bones above and below them, so they do not actually slip (except in extreme spinal trauma), but the bulging may give the appearance that the disc has slipped.
Symptoms of a bulging disc or herniated disc may include back pain, sciatica, leg weakness, sexual dysfunction, and in severe cases, loss of bowel and/or bladder control (if you are currently experiencing a loss of bowel and/or bladder control, this is an emergency situation and you should seek medical attention immediately!)
A disc (or disk, either spelling is correct) is the soft tissue "shock absorber" between two bones of the spine. The disc has an outer wall (called the annulus) of tough tissue known as fibrocartilage, which is similar to the tissue that makes up the ear. Within the wall of fibrocartilage is a gel-like material (called the nucleus) composed of water and water-binding chemicals.
When the outer wall of the disc is damaged, either by a single major injury, or many small injuries over time, the pressure from within the disc can cause it to bulge outward, much like a tire may bulge on the side if there is a defect in the sidewall.
Although there's no definitive rule on the terminology, some doctors will refer to a less-severe case as a bulging disc, and a more severe (larger bulge) case as a herniated disc. If the wall of the disc is breached and the gel comes out of the disc, it is said to be ruptured or "extruded". Many people (including some doctors) will sometimes mistakenly call a herniated disc (in which the disc wall has not been breached and the gel is still contained) a ruptured disc (in which the inner gel of the disc is no longer contained).
In many cases, the location of a herniated disc is such that it can push against the sensitive nerves where they branch off from the spinal cord. The pressure on the nerves from the bulging disc may be further increased by swelling of the area due to inflammation. In some cases, more nerve pressure is actually a result of inflammation than from the bulging disc itself, and in these cases, pain is often relieved by means of ice, medications, and in severe cases, steroid injections, to reduce the inflammation.
Over time, a herniated disc may begin to lose fluid and become thinner, and then would be considered as degenerative disc disease.
How Does Spinal Decompression Help A Herniated Disc?
As we've discussed on the main page of this site, spinal decompression creates a suction within the disc to draw bulging disc material back towards the center of the disc. In addition, decompression pulls fluid and nutrients into the disc to help with healing, so with time and repeated treatments, the disc wall starts to heal and stabilize so that it start to maintain it's normal shape and contain the bulge.
If you're ready to schedule a FREE consultation and evaluation to find out if we can help your herniated disc problems, call us today at:
