Do I have a 'Slipped disc'?

One of the most common things we see at the practice are disc related problems. So, what are discs?

The discs you have in your back are protective, circular pads of cartilage (connective tissue) that lie in between the bones of your spine (vertebrae). The discs are responsible for cushioning the vertebrae when you jump or run. The discs are made from a tough, fibrous case, which contains a softer, gel-like substance.

A prolapsed or herniated disc (sometimes called a ‘slipped disc’) occurs when the outer part of your disc ruptures, allowing the gel inside to bulge and protrude outwards from in between your vertebrae. The damaged disc can put pressure on your whole spinal cord or on a single nerve fibre. This means that a slipped disc can cause pain both in the area of the protruding disc and in any part of your body that is controlled by the nerve the disc is pressing on. Most commonly this will result in sciatica.

Causes of a slipped disc injury

• Any type of intense pressure on the disk by the vertebrae above and below it can cause this injury. Lifting a heavy objects in an improper manner, sudden twisting, weakening of the disk covering that occurs with age, or by traumatic injury to the back area.
• Obesity can also put pressure on the disks.
• Smoking can contribute to degeneration of the disk material

I love this chart by Dr Alf Nachemsen. It really shows how different positions affect the pressure on your discs.