Shock Absorbers of the Spine

They bulge, herniate, degenerate and tear, but they don't "slip." Discs serve as the "shock absorbers" of your body. Separating each vertebra, they create the space for nerves to exit the spinal cord. Rings of fibrous tissue called the annulus contain a soft jelly center.

We generally see two types of disc problems:

Bulging Disc
A weakened area of the annulus allows the soft center of the disc to bulge out, putting pressure on nearby nerves. Bulging discs respond well to chiropractic care, often eliminating the need for surgery.

Herniated Disc
A herniated or ruptured disc is more serious. It seems most common in the lower back. This is when part of the soft center pushes out through a weakened area due to trauma or degeneration, putting pressure on the spinal cord.

Chiropractic care, along with walking, increased water intake and improved nutrition offer a natural, non-surgical resolution for many disc problems.

Health information provided by the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC).