Disc injuries of the spine are a common presentation to our practice, particularly those of the neck and lower back. Sometimes people refer to these injuries as a ‘slipped disc’, however this terminology is not accurate because it is simply not possible for a disc to slip out.
What typically occurs is that there is an injury such as a tear to the outer fibres of the disc, called the annulus fibrosis, known as an annular tear. This then allows the inner central part of the disc, called the Nucleus Pulposis, to push through that tear and ‘bulge’ out. If the bulge is large enough it can contact the passing spinal nerves and put pressure on them, resulting in more severe pain which can then refer down either the arm or leg regions. A disc bulge in the neck can refer to the arm, whilst a disc bulge in the lower back can refer to the leg, and is a potential source of what some people call sciatica.
If you have back or neck pain it is important to have it diagnosed by one of our experienced therapists, and the appropriate treatment undertaken. Left untreated back and neck pain can get worse over time, however our therapists provide effective treatment that not only gets rid of the pain in the short term, but also addresses the cause of the problem and thus reduces the risk of another episode in the future.