According to most research, disc problems are the number one cause of low back pain but they also cause neck pain.
The Intervertebral discs are positioned between the vertebrae in the spine. These discs serve many purposes, including allowing movement of the spine, creating space between the vertebrae, and acting as shock absorbers. The gelatinous middle allows the disc to compress and expand based on impact and movement. Trauma to the spine can cause the discs to herniated, bulge, become displaced (slipped disc), or even rupture. Trauma or direct injury to the area is not the only cause; a job that requires long periods of sitting, repetitive flexion motion and something something as simple as a hard sneeze can injure a disc. As we get older, the discs begin to weaken, lose some of their height and dehydrate. Many people will lose one to two inches in overall height as they age due to degenerative disc thinning. These conditions can put pressure on the nerves either by direct impingement or by causing a narrowing of the opening where the nerves exit the spine and may cause painful radiation into the arms, buttocks and legs, i.e. a Pinched nerve”. The good news is that most of the time, these disc conditions will respond to conservative gentle chiropractic care and do not need surgical intervention. If you have pain, numbness or tingling that radiates into your arm or leg, you may have a disc problem. I have been successfully treating disc problems for 38 years now and I am a board eligible Chiropractic Neurologist. Please call us at 910-392-3333 or click on the link on the landing page to get an appointment.