The Ball Bearings of the Spine
July 22, 2009
The Ball Bearings of the Spine
They bulge, herniate, degenerate and tear, but they don’t “slip.”
Discs are the “ball bearings” of the spine. Separating each vertebra, they create the necessary spacing for nerves to exit the spinal cord to service the organs and tissues of your body. Rings of fibrous tissue called the annulus contain a soft jelly center.
Intervertebral discs are the ball bearings of the spine.
Like a ball bearing, each vertebra rotates around the soft center of the disc, permitting turning and bending.
In our office, we see two common disc problems:
Bulging Disc
A weakened area of the annulus can allow the softer nucleus of the disc to bulge like a balloon. This can put pressure on nearby nerves. Bulging discs cases respond well. With improved spinal function we’ve seen many cases resolve nicely.
Herniated Disc
A herniated or ruptured disc is more serious. It can occur anywhere in the spine, but is most common in the lower back. This is when part of the soft nucleus pushes out of the annulus into the spinal canal, usually through a weakened area due to trauma or degeneration.
Chiropractic care, along with simple exercise, such as walking, increased water intake and improved nutrition offer a natural, non-surgical resolution to many disc problems.
Practice members experience tremendous success in addressing disc problems in our office. Chiropractic care can often help heal disc tissue and offer relief to the pain that accompanies disc problems.
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