Chiropractic Health -- Disc Disorders / Herniated Discs

Disc Disorders / Herniated Discs

The inter vertebral discs are cartilaginous plates surrounded by a fibrous ring that lie between the vertebral bodies and serve to cushion them. Through degeneration, wear and tear, and trauma, the fibrous tissue (annulus fibrosis) constraining the soft disc material (nucleus pulposus) may tear or become compressed. This squeezing or protrusion of the disc has been called herniated disc, ruptured disc, herniated nucleus pulposus, or prolapsed disc.


How Upper Cervical Care Relates to Disc Disorders / Herniated Discs

Disc disorders are frequently linked to spinal trauma in medical literature. Often, trauma is directed at the neck during auto accidents, head injuries, sports accidents, and falls. Because the brain stem contains the control center for the postural muscles of the spine, an injury at the upper neck can interfere with the brain's normal control over those postural muscles, leading to muscular weakness, atrophy and spasm throughout the neck and back. Spasm of the spinal muscles can lead to compression of the spinal vertebrae, and ultimately to compression of the cervical, thoracic, and/or lumbar inter vertebral discs.

While many disc disorder sufferers recall specific traumas such as head injuries, auto accidents or falls, which could have injured their spines, some do not. An upper cervical examination is necessary in each individual's case to assess whether an upper cervical injury is present and whether benefit from upper cervical care can be achieved.