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| Why are the Discs
so Important? |
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Discs
consist of an outer annulus fibrosus, which surrounds the inner
nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosus consists of several layers
of fibrocartilage. The strong annular fibers contain the nucleus
pulposus and distribute pressure evenly across the disc. The nucleus
gel, which is the sameconsistency of jelly. The nucleus of the
disc acts as a shock absorber, absorbing the impact of the body's
daily activities and keeping the two vertebrae separated.
The disc can be compared to a doughnut:
whereby the annulus fibrosis is similar to the dough and the nucleus
pulposis is the jelly. If one presses down on the front of the
doughnut the jelly moves posterior or to the back. When one develops
a prolapsed disc the jelly/nucleus pulposis is forced out of the
doughnut/ disc and may put pressure on the nerve located near
the disc. This can and will produces one the symptoms of sciatica. |
There is one disc between
each pair of vertebrae, except for the first cervical segment,
the atlas. The atlas is a ring around the roughly cone-shaped
extension of the axis (second cervical segment). The axis acts
as a post around which the atlas can rotate, allowing the neck
to swivel.
As people age, the nucleus pulposus begins
to dehydrate, which limits its ability to absorb shock. The
annulus fibrosus gets weaker with age and begins to tear. While
this may not cause pain in some people, in others one or both
of these may cause chronic pain.
Pain due
to the inability of the dehydrating nucleus pulposus to absorb
shock is called axial pain or disc space pain. One generally refers
to the gradual dehydration of the nucleus pulposus as degenerative
disc disease. |
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W hen the annulus fibrosus
tears due to an injury or the aging process, the nucleus pulposus
can begin to extrude through the tear. This is called disc herniation.
Near the posterior side of each disc, all along the spine, major
spinal nerves extend out to different organs, tissues, extremities
etc.
It is very common for the herniated disc
to press against these nerves (pinched
nerve) causing radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and diminished
strength and/or range of motion. In addition, the contact of
the inner nuclear gel, which contains inflammatory proteins,
with a nerve can also cause significant pain. Nerve-related
pain is called radicular pain.
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Pain Patterns from Sciatic Nerve
Irritaion
Irritation of Spinal Nerves, due to disc herniations,
cause distinct pain patterns that travel down the legs. Chiropracitc
care can help to relieve the pressure on these nerves, through
corrective spinal manipulations. It must also be noted that Sciatic
pain has many different origins, but disc herniations are among
the primary causes. New Spinal Decompression Tables availible
at Dopps Chiropractic, Read More.
If you have any of these symptoms or think you may, schedule
an appointment today, to visit with a doctor about Chiorpractic
care.
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