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Collapsed Disc
What is a Collapsed Disc?A normal healthy disc has enough height and circumference to adequately maintain the intervertebral space between spinal bones. As we age, it is normal and completely expected that discs will lose some or most of their height and circumference, due to the effects of disc degeneration. Discs dry out and shrink as they age, providing less cushion between individual vertebrae. This condition is one of the causes of a disc collapse.Herniated discs can also make a disc lose height and/or circumference if a sizeable portion of the nucleus pulposus is pushed out between the spinal bones. Ruptured discs will usually entail a loss of some or all of the nucleus pulposus, as it leaks out from the annular tear in the outer disc wall. Either of these conditions can create disc collapse. Collapsed Disc FactsThe term “collapsed” is not actually accurate for most herniated or degenerated discs. Herniated discs are not “collapsed”; instead, they have suffered a displacement of part of the internal disc nucleus, causing them to change shape and most often, lose height. Herniated discs might be painful if caused by trauma, but are not usually the causation behind long term chronic back pain.Degenerated discs do not typically “collapse” either. They shrink in both height and diameter, but this process is normal and part of the aging cycle for every human spine. Very few degenerated discs pose a significant source of pain or potential health hazard. A small minority of patients might experience considerable arthritic changes in the surrounding vertebrae which might cause some pain in affected individuals. Collapsed Disc AdviceRemember to keep objectivity when considering the state of your spine. Sure, you might have degenerative changes and you might also have experienced one or more herniated discs. SO WHAT? I have also. Almost every adult will demonstrate noticeable spinal degeneration and many will also have one or more disc herniations. Most of these conditions cause little or no pain, although they are commonly blamed for a host of dorsopathy syndromes. Do not rush to conclusions and blame your discs for back pain, without considering the alternate possibilities first. There are many more explanations which often make far more sense, especially if you have endured countless unsuccessful disc pain treatments. Why not save yourself the trouble of another failure and think about these possibilities first?1/6/09 Revised 12/2/09
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