Discs are cushions between each of the vertebrae of the spine. They are made up of connective tissue and cartilage. Discs act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to twist and bend. Without the discs, the spine would be stiff and rigid and any movement of the upper torso would have to come from the hips and lower limbs.

The discs also act as spacers between the vertebrae creating an intervertebral space for each of the spinal nerves to exit from the spinal cord.

A most common form of back problem, often referred to as "slipped disc," is usually caused by a spinal misalignment of one or more vertebrae. This condition is known as a subluxation. This misalignment can create an unequal pressure on one side of the disc causing it to protrude to the extent that it can irritate a spinal nerve.

When the protruding disc irritates or compresses a spinal nerve, severe pain and/or numbness are the primary symptoms and may be aggravated by the slightest movement, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc. A disc problem in the lower back can also affect the organs and functions supplied by the involved nerves. This can result in the additional symptoms of constipation or diarrhea, urinary tract problems, sexual dysfunction, weakness in the lower limbs and even headaches.

Common medical procedure is to surgically trim the protruding part of the disc. But when this is done without removing the underlying cause (spinal misalignment), the problem has a strong tendency to recur. In the vast majority of back pain problems, gentle spinal manipulation is the treatment of choice. Recovery time is much faster and there is no comparison between the cost of chiropractic therapy and surgery!

More and more medical authorities are proclaiming the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment. W.J.S. Melvin, M.D. during his term as president of the Ontario Medical Association, stated that "with the growing interest in manipulation for back pain, the chiropractor seems to be in a favorable position, since there is no doubt he is better at manipulation than most doctors. We must now realize that the world is not full of cripples produced by chiropractors. Chiropractors do not make people worse, they make an awful lot of people an awful lot better."

If you or someone you know is suffering with a disc problem. Let Chiropractic Care be your first stop on the road to better spinal health. Call us today!