NEWSLETTER
December 2018
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Understanding Herniated Discs
Back pain can develop for all sorts of reasons. From a car accident to bad posture, to an uncomfortable seat for a prolonged period of time, back pain can come out of nowhere and cause no small amount of discomfort once it arrives. There are some back injuries, however, that are even more painful than yourrun-of-the-millbackpain.Aherniateddisc isoneof themostpainful back injuries that you can experience, and it is far more common than you may be initially aware. What is a Herniated Disc? Your spine is made up of a series of interlocking bones with small cushions in-between each joint socket. The structure of your spine is what allows you tomove freely fromside to side. Every time you crunch your abdomen by bending forward, or lean to one side or another for a deep stretch, those little vertebral bodies move with you, keeping you comfortable and your back strong. Without cushioning in between each of those sockets, the bones would rub against one another with every movement, and this would be incredibly painful.
Whenadiscbecomesherniated,thecushioning inbetweenthevertebrae willrupture,essentiallydeflating thecushioning inbetween thevertebrae andcausing thebones tobegin torubagainstoneanother.This ispainful enough as it is, but can become even more painful if the herniated disc actually begins to press on the adjacent spinal nerves, causing the pain to spread even further up the spine. The most common placement for a herniated disc is at the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back. While it is not the only reason that pain can become severe in the lower back, it is definitely one of the most severe forms of back pain. If you suspect that you may have experienced a herniated disc it is important that you seek medical attention, such as fromyourphysical therapist.Aherniateddiscwillnothealon itsown,and working with a physical therapist is one of the best ways to experience relief from the pain associated with this common concern. (Continued Inside...)
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