Do you know what a ‘slipped disc’ is? What are the symptoms of a slipped disc?
Sometimes we may be symptom free and we don’t even know we have a slipped disc but other times it causes a great deal of pain generally due to the pressure on the nerve roots or on the spinal cord.
Slipped discs most often affect the lower back (lumbar vertebrae) and are relatively rare in the neck (cervical vertebrae) and in the chest (thoracic vertebrae) sections of the spine. If we are diagnosed with a slipped disc, it doesn’t really mean that our ‘disc has slipped’ it means that the soft part of the disc bulges through the circle of the connective tissue. This is when you will need slipped disc treatment in Mosman by Chiropractor Clare Fulton.
Chiropractic care has brought relief from back pain and other spinal problems to countless clients. Clare believes one of the main causes of pain is when the bones in the spine (vertebrae) are not correctly aligned (i.e. subluxation).
First of all you need to know how your body works so that it will help you understand why and how injuries occur and secondly how to stay healthy. The spine is divided into three parts: the neck (cervical vertebrae), the chest (thoracic vertebrae) and the lower back (lumbar vertebrae). These three areas are naturally curved to support the body with strong, flexible muscles and ligaments to maintain the structure. Each disc is tough on the outside with a spongy center with a constant exchange of fluids to enhance our movement.
In severe cases, and if you have pressure on the nerve roots, you may experience paralysis in some of your muscles with associated pain radiating to your legs and/or arms. You may also experience a disturbance of feeling in the limbs; muscle spasms or paralysis in some parts of your body. Pressure on the spinal cord can also cause problems with control of the bladder and/or bowel.
For a lot of patients the disc pain comes on with little or no trauma or provocation. Poor posture can dramatically increase the pressure on your discs creating increase strain and wear and tear. A thorough look at a persons posture can determine if their discs are under increased strain, or if their posture is a causing their disc problems in the first place.
Did you know that holding your head forward significantly increase’s the load on your lower back? For every inch your head moves forward the effective weight of the head doubles creating increased load on your lower discs! It’s not uncommon for the clients who have undergone slipped disc treatment in Mosman to have had their forward head posture reduced by up to 6 inches.
If you suffer from a slipped disc, it is important to get a correct diagnosis from people who understand your body. Clare and her team at her Spine and Health Centre understand the link between posture, discs and health and have great success in slipped disc treatment in Mosman.