Before discussing disc injury treatment lets go over the cause. Usually, these injuries involve lifting something up off the ground and rotating the low back. However, the item doesn’t have to be heavy. We have seen people bend over to pick up a pencil and incur a disc protrusion. Repetitive compression of the spine can cause these injuries as well. Trampolines, cars or trucks with bad suspension, heavy weighted squatting workouts are some common mechanisms of injury.
The disc acts as a fluid filled pillow. A protective ring around the disc holds the fluid in place. This ring is susceptible to damage with rotational or compression forces. Damage includes both a bulge in the weakened part of the ring, or in more serious cases, a herniation resulting in fluid leaking onto the nerves. In addition to compressing the spinal nerves, this process casues severe inflamation and pain.
Both cases result in irritation or compression on the nerve root. The nerve transmits pain signals down through it’s distribution throughout the body when it gets irritated or compressed. These signals include pain, tingling, or numbness. The muscle may feel weak as well but can still move, and will lose all function when completely compressed. This is where you get complete muscle dysfunction and possible paralysis throughout the affected neurological distribution and systemic dysfunction including the intestines, bladder, and sex organs if it occurs in the low back.
