Spinal Misalignment & Herniated Disc | Symptoms, Pain Management & Treatment

About 70% of the population will have back pain at some point in their lives. Lumbar pain due to a herniated disc is associated with leg pain and is one of the most severe and disabling forms of spinal misalignment and back pain.

The spine is composed of vertebrae where a spinal canal passes through it. Bone marrow also flows through this canal. There are certain ring-shaped structures that are called intervertebral discs and situated between the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. These discs are made up with of cartilaginous and elastic tissue which is responsible for avoiding friction between one vertebra to another and cushion the impact of both layers.

With repetitive use, the intervertebral discs wear out over time which facilitates the formation of disc hernias. In this condition, a certain part of the disc leaves the normal position and compresses the nerve roots that emerge from the spine.

The problem is more frequent in the lumbar and cervical regions, because they are areas more exposed to the movement and that bear more load.

"For more than a century, chiropractic successfully treats the symptoms associated with disc herniation and misalignment of the spine.

The column is a structure formed by 24 vertebrae (bones of the spine) plus the sacrum, the coccyx and the two ilios, which are responsible for the support, mobility and protection of the spinal cord and nerves (which are part of our nervous system, responsible for connecting the brain as the body). Between each vertebra there is a cartilaginous disc. It works as a shock absorber, an impact distributor, protecting the spinal cord and ensuring flexibility of the spine.

Imagine if you jump up and down. What would happen to the vertebrae without the cushioning and support of these discs? Now, move to one side and the other. Again, you can visualize the importance of the discs between the vertebrae. Without those disks, your spine could not work.

What Does Upset The Spine?

Experts explain that stress, falls, poor posture, poor nutrition, accidents, sports traumas, among other causes cause misalignment of the spinal vertebrae that also causes overload on the discs, causing one or the other to lose their integrity and finally leads to poor blood circulation.

Discs rely on the circulation of joint fluids that bring nutrients and eliminate their waste. If a vertebral joint loses its normal movement, these are prevented and the health of the disc begins to deteriorate. Like a damp sponge, a healthy disk is flexible. A dry sponge is hard and rigid and can break easily.

Blows in the spine can generate a bulging, protrusion, hernia or worse, with which the discs are fragmented (hijacked). This can be very painful, pressing the spinal cord and nerve roots, interfering in its functioning.

Extent Of Pain

Herniated disc may be asymptomatic or may cause pain ranging from mild to disabling pain. The symptoms are diverse and range from the area where the nerve root has been compromised, but the most common are: paresthesia (tingling), spinal pain, leg pain, arm pain, loss of bladder or bowel control, loss of sensitivity (tact), weakness in the arms and legs, among others.

A study published in March 2014 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) shows that 90% of patients diagnosed with a herniated disc, treated with chiropractic, had a significant improvement in pain and remission of the disc herniation.

It is important to remember that for definitive improvement to take place, it is of great importance to change the habits that created this problem, as well as to correct the cause of the problem.

Taking medications that mask the symptoms without correcting the problem will not be enough to improve. In most cases, surgery is unnecessary. Like medicines, surgery corrects the symptoms without dealing with the cause, it would be the same as turning off the alarm without taking the thief out of the house.

Chiropractic treatment, when done by a qualified professional can correct the alignment of the spine, relieving pressure on the discs, restoring the balance of the body and providing the pain relief and better quality of life to the patient.

Hip Problems Caused By Spinal Misalignment

Most people think that spinal misalignment will only cause pain in the neck or back, but they can actually cause problems throughout the body. The spinal cord is more than an extension of the brain, which sends neuronal information to every cell in the body. If there is any disturbance in communication between the brain and the other part of the body, it can result in a problem in particular part of the body.

Sciatica

Sciatica is not a disease, but a specific type of pain. When you have a pain that stretches along your sciatic nerve - it can be anywhere from the back to the leg - it is called sciatica.

Spinal misalignment can compress the sciatic nerve, causing pain in the hip, lower back, buttocks and upper thigh. Depending on the severity and lack of specific alignment, it can or cannot be improved by itself.

Piriformis Syndrome

The piriformis is the muscle that rotates the hip. If you have stiffness in the back due to misalignment, it can make it difficult for the piriformis to do its job and cause inflammation. This can also be linked to sciatica. Ice, massage or an anti-inflammatory can help reduce swelling and relieve some of the pain.

Hip Bursitis

If you have a misaligned spine, you may develop inflammation of the hip bursitis, a small sac that is supposed to contain fluid. There is bursa (bursitis) throughout the body. They serve as buffers between the bones and the muscles around them, by reducing friction.

If the bursa of the hip becomes inflamed, it can become very painful. The pain may be in the hip or groin area. The pain is usually worse at night or after sitting for a long time. They usually do not require surgery and can usually be relieved with anti-inflammatory medications or you must avoid things that worsen symptoms.