What Is a Slipped Disk, REALLY??? Total Health Systems of Macomb County

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Dr. Jennifer Hudson, Total Health Systems of Macomb County.

 

Your spinal column is made of up 26 bones (vertebrae) that are cushioned by discs. These discs work like spongy little shock absorbers that help protect the bones when doing activities like lifting, twisting and walking. You could compare them to shocks on a car. The better the shocks, the smoother the ride. Your body works in a similar fashion. car

Every disc has two parts – a tough outer ring that is rubbery, circular, and strong and allows flexibility. The center is softer and more jelly like. This is known as the nucleous pulposus. When you have a slipped disk, a disc does not actually slip. When the inner nucleous of the disc protrudes/bulges through the tough outer rings, it is sometimes referred to as a slipped disk.

A slipped disk is called by many names. It is also referred to as a prolapsed disc or a herniated disc. All these terms can be used interchangeably, the reality is, and it is painful! The bulging disc can press on nearby structures such as a nerve coming from the spinal cord. Inflammation will usually develop around the prolapsed part of the disc and create more pressure and pain. You may also feel numbness and pain along the nerve that is being compressed.

Any disc in the spine can prolapse. However, most prolapsed discs occur in the lumbar part of the spine (lower back). The size of the prolapse can vary. As a rule, the larger the prolapse, the more severe the symptoms are likely to be.

There aProlapsed Disc - Slipped Diskre many possible treatment options for a prolapsed disc. A more conservative and nonsurgical approach is chiropractic care. At Total Health Systems, we are multi-disciplinary clinics that comprehensively treat most back conditions. Treatment is administered by chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists, and massage therapists. A patient’s treatment plan is completely individualized. Based upon a thorough examination, possible treatments include but are not limited to chiropractic adjustments, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises. This approach is designed to help ease the pain of herniated disc symptoms. We are also dedicated to educating our patients on how to achieve and maintain faster recovery through patient education – ranging from nutrition to rehabilitative exercises. We are interested in the WHOLE wellbeing of our patients.
How can you help to prevent disc injuries?

There are different degrees of injury ranging from mild tears on the outside of the disc to the more vertebrae 1severe, disc prolapse.
The risk of developing a disc herniation increases every time you bend forward, especially if you are holding a heavy load in front of you while bending.
The following points will help to reduce the pressure on your discs:
• Avoid prolonged sitting, bending, twisting and carrying
• Wear a support belt when you do manual work
• Avoid prolonged driving
Some of the risk factors for developing a disc injury are, if:
You have poor physical fitness and poor core strength. You have a job involving bending and heavy lifting. You have a job involving prolonged sitting.
If your stomach and back muscles are strong, you bend correctly and you sit correctly, you help to protect the spinal structures, including the discs.
With any back or possible slipped disk injuries, call Total Health Systems for your complete care!

Dr. Jennifer Hudson, Total Health Systems of Macomb County.
 Herniated Disk. (2010, September). American Academy of Family Physicians. Retrieved July 1, 2012, from http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk.html
 Herniated Disk. (2012, June 7). PubMed Health. Retrieved July 1, 2012, fromhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001478/
 Herniated Disk. (2010, December 18). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 1, 2012, fromhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/herniated-disk/DS00893/METHOD=print

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