Understanding Disc Pain
If you have lower back pain that keeps returning, or your low back pain extends further down your leg and in to your foot, perhaps it’s an indicator that you have a slipped disc. Also known as a herniated disc, the pain caused by this condition can be extreme and sometimes debilitating.
Pain Brought On By a Herniated Disc.
Having a slipped disc can be very unpleasant. But in many cases, symptoms will die down in 6 weeks or less. This holds true 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 indicator that it may not go away on its own. Other treatment options, including gentle, non-surgical spinal decompression treatment, should then be considered.
What Causes Discs to Slip?
Your spine is composed of a chain of bones called the vertebrae. The front component 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, named the nucleus pulposus.
These discs are what allow the spine to be flexible and let us lean forward or turn our upper body from side to side. Our discs also absorb impacts that are transferred to the spine while jumping or running, for example,.
It means that one of the spinal discs is bulging beyond the edges of the vertebral bodies that are above and below it when you have a slipped disc. 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. But the tissue that has come out remains connected to the disc.
- Sequestration— This is the most serious type of slipped disk. In this particular instance, the spinal disc tissue has entered into the spinal canal and is no longer directly attached 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 therapy.
If you are experiencing recurrent disc pain and you believe you may have a slipped disc, you should absolutely consider seeking treatment from one of our medical professionals.
By gently manipulating the spine to make sure that it goes back 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.
Call North Eastern Pennsylvania Disc Center at 570-341-7062 to Schedule a Consultation!
