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Herniated Disc Injury
* Whiplash Herniated Disc What is a Herniated Disc Injury?Herniated discs occur when the soft internal center of the intervertebral disc (nucleus pulposus) pushes against the tough outer disc wall (annulus fibrosus), causing it to bulge. The disc bulges in a particular direction, losing symmetry and height. This breakdown of structural integrity can occur spontaneously from violent force placed upon a particular vertebral level of the spine. Intervertebral discs act as spinal shock absorbers, but even they have a limit on the force they can withstand. When that force becomes too great, a disc can suddenly bulge or rupture, creating a herniated disc condition.Herniated Disc Injury LocationsHerniated discs occur mostly in the lumbar and cervical areas of the spine. This is due to several reasons. First, these are the vertebral levels which bend and flex the most during our daily activities. Also, many people demonstrate a genetic predisposition to developing disc conditions in these 2 regions. The cervical spine features smaller, thinner discs which must still support the tremendous weight of the head. These discs are easier to injure than the larger structures in the middle back region. This is especially true when sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head is endured, such as in the case of whiplash. The lumbar spine must endure the brunt of manual labor and is constantly being used to support our upright posture. Both of these factors make the lumbar area more prone to herniations than the thoracic middle spine. Herniations which do occur in the thoracic spine are normally caused by specific accident related circumstances, since these discs are not known for developing the same level of spinal degeneration as the cervical and lumbar spinal regions.Causes of a Herniated Disc InjuryTraumatic causation of a disc herniation can occur from virtually any physical activity which places sudden or significant force on the spinal column. The most common causes of a disc injury include:* Car Accidents * Sports Accidents * Falls * Lifting Heavy Objects * Bending or twisting at the waist Remember that most herniated discs do not occur from a specific injury. Most are the results of either idiopathic reasons or simple spinal degeneration. The vast majority of herniations which are not due to specific trauma are asymptomatic and are unlikely to cause any pain at all. Herniations which do come from specific trauma are typically painful, but will usually resolve in 6 to 8 weeks, even without medical treatment. Herniated discs are not usually the cause of chronic back pain, although they are commonly blamed for it. In these cases, the cause of the disc pain is misdiagnosed and the disc is simply acting as a scapegoat on which the pain is mistakenly blamed. Advice on a Herniated Disc InjuryBeing diagnosed with a herniated disc can be a scary experience. We have all heard the horror stories about patients who have suffered greatly from their treatment-resistant disc pain conditions. However, this does not have to be your path…Take time to learn the facts about herniated discs and see for yourself that disc pain is not usually a big concern at all. Allowing the condition to get inside your mind and heart will definitely create substantial fear and will worsen and perpetuate any pain you are experiencing. To counteract the nocebo effect of the diagnostic process for herniations and degenerative disc disease, I recommend knowledge therapy. These simple techniques put you on the road to recovery, rather than the one way street to eternal suffering. Please take the time to share your own disc pain story on our HERNIATED DISC FORUM Please subscribe to our FREE E-Zine, The Herniated Disc Newsletter. 6/18/08 Revised 3/2/10
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