When diagnosed with a ‘blown’ or ‘slipped’ disc, patients may be experiencing a fair bit of pain in their back, possibly referring into the arms or legs, maybe even some tingling or numbness in these areas too.  There are times where patients don’t have any symptoms at all and it’s just an incidental finding on MRI scans.

Many patients, when experiencing pain and discomfort from a disc injury,  have found that Chiropractic care does ease related symptoms.

Let’s first look at the words slipped or blown when it relates to discs in the spine.  Discs of the spine don’t actually slip or blow out like a punctured tyre.  The disc is a shock absorber between 2 vertebral bones.  It allows for cushioning, stability and some motion in the spine.  The outer layer of this disc is a strong fibrous band (annulus fibrosis) holding together an inner toothpaste-like gel (nucleus pulposus) in the centre of it.  It’s sort of like a chocolate molten cake – solid on the outside with a gooey centre on the inside.

When the disc is under tremendous stress and strain over a prolonged period of time (e.g. sustained bad posture, weak unexercised muscles) or sustains a sudden injury (e.g. lifting heavy object incorrectly and suddenly), this causes the tough outer layer to split and the inner gel-like substance to start leaking out.  It’s when this nucleus pulposus starts to spread out and touch the spinal nerves and cause irritation in that area, that one can often experience pain and sometimes other neurological symptoms.

After careful examination with a Chiropractor, a tailored treatment plan for each particular patient is implemented, taking pressure off the area and easing symptoms.  The disc material will never ‘go back’ but given some time and symptomatic relief through Chiropractic care, the body will remove this extra disc material, and most patients should start to feel some relief over time.

Surgery is an option should a course of conservative care be unable to assist with disc symptoms.  Most surgeons nowadays, will however only operate once a patient has exhausted all nonsurgical means of treatment.

If you have any questions about a compromised disc, please send us your question on Facebook, LinkedIn or email.

Take care,
Dr Monica