Intervertebral Discs and Risks of Misalignment
Our spine is made up of vertebrae connected by facet joints and intervertebral discs. These discs are very important for connecting and maintaining space between the vertebrae, allowing for good movement, strength, and shock absorption. When the spine is not correctly aligned, the vertebrae can be forced into positions that place inappropriate load on the discs, which over time can lead to herniation of the disc’s soft inner material. This occurs because of damage to the outer cartilage part of the disc, allowing the inner material to escape, which can be contained by external ligaments or burst into the space where the spinal cord and spinal nerves are located.
This phenomenon occurs more easily in the lumbar and cervical areas rather than in the thoracic area, which is stabilized by the rib cage. In the lumbar region, hernias predominantly develop between vertebrae L5, the last lumbar vertebra, and S1, the first sacral vertebra, and between vertebrae L4 and L5. In the cervical region, they mostly occur between vertebrae C5 and C6, and between C6 and C7.
Possible symptoms of a cervical hernia include:
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Limited movement
- Loss of strength in the arm and/or hand
- Tingling in the arms or hands and/or reduced sensations
- Loss of balance
- Headaches
Possible symptoms of a lumbar hernia include:
- Back pain
- Pain in the buttocks
- Sciatica that can extend down the leg to the foot
- Loss of strength in the leg and/or foot
- Tingling and/or reduced sensations in the legs and/or feet
Noninvasive treatments and new trends
Hernias can exert pressure on nerve roots exiting the spine or, worse, on the spinal cord, causing symptoms such as pain, tingling, or loss of sensation or muscle function in the limbs. In more extreme cases, the sphincters of the bladder or anus can be involved, losing their function. When this happens, it is important to urgently go to the hospital because spinal cord decompression may be necessary to avoid irreversible damage. It is interesting to note that the size of these hernias is often not directly related to the presence or intensity of pain or loss of function. In fact, MRI scans of almost half of the population over 40 show the presence of disc hernias. This suggests that other factors need to be considered when managing a symptomatic patient, such as dysfunction in other structures like joints, muscles, or ligaments.
For this reason, while patients with disc hernias were previously advised to undergo surgery, fortunately, this trend has decreased. Both in the field of medicine and chiropractic today, conservative methods are recommended. Non-invasive chiropractic treatments aim to restore the correct function of the spine and nervous system, treating the cause of the problem and not just the symptoms.
Other treatable symptoms
Cervicalgia
The cervical spine is critical for neurological signals and brain support.
Neck problems result from trauma and poor posture due to electronic devices.
Whiplash
It occurs not only in traffic accidents, but also in sports such as rugby, boxing and basketball, where the neck undergoes violent movements, causing injury to the muscles and ligaments of the cervical spine.
Lumbago
About 85% of the Western population will suffer from low back pain in their lifetime, mainly due to mechanical causes.
Factors such as poor posture, repetitive movements, emotional stress and aging contribute to these pains.
Headache
Headaches are classified into primary and secondary.
Primary, 95 percent of cases, include migraine, muscle-tensive, and cluster headaches.
Secondary ones result from other causes such as sinusitis, medications, meningitis, trauma, tumors, and cervical problems.
Shoulder pain
The shoulder is a complex joint that balances mobility and stability through the cooperation of three main joints and two pseudo-joints, controlled by 23 muscles.
Biomechanical problems of the spine can affect the shoulder, causing incorrect movements and microtrauma.
