Herniated disc refers to a condition where the pad of tissue between two spinal bones is shifted out of normal position, this is a disc bulge and is often referred to as "bulging", "ruptured" or "prolapsed". Although individuals will frequently refer to this condition as a slipped disc, that really is not a description of the condition.
The discs provide a cushion between the vertebrae and allow the spine to support body movement while keeping the spinal bones from grinding together when we move. The discs also assist the spinal bones to properly protect the spinal cord which carries thousands of nerves through it.
Vertebral discs are layered between stacked spinal bones. The outsides of the discs are made of an elastic mesh like tissue that is fused to the spinal bones. Inside the elastic webbing is a gel-like hydraulic system that is 88% water and helps react to compression.
Misalignments restrict the exchange of nutrients to and from the disc since discs do not have a direct blood supply so that the discs are are literately starving to death (degenerating). Misaligned spinal bones cause the gel in the disc to be displaced from its normal location. If the gel is pushed out of its normal location but still contained within the outside fibrous ring, the condition is referred to as a bulge. If the gel has been pushed through the outside fibrous ring, the condition is referred to a herniated disc.
Science has questioned whether the bulge or herniated disc is the cause of the symptoms since research findings have found that many people with these conditions do not have pain while many people with these conditions have debilitating pain. This is the exact opposite of what would be expected if the disc derangement was the cause of the symptoms.
This may help explain why chiropractic is successful with many disc bulges and hernias. The Chiropractors approach is to help remove nerve irritation through correcting subluxated (misaligned) vertebrae. Since this treatment has been successful for many people the cause may be found related to the subluxation complex.
