Bulging/Herniated Spinal Disc Treatment Options

A spinal disc herniation is described as an abnormal condition of an intervertebral disc or a condition known as a "slipped," "ruptured," or "blown" disc. Studies reveal that there is no known cause for a disc to herniate. It is speculated that these conditions occur from repetitive stress resulting from occupational hazards, poor spinal posture, and/or natural processes of aging and/or trauma.
A herniation begins when the inner nucleus pulposus posterially bulges through the annulus fibrosis causing ”disc bulge.” This bulge may push on a spinal nerve. This interferes with the natural blood supply to the nerve roots and sets up a condition known as intraneural edema. Basically, the nerve root microcirculation is compressed and can progress to the point where the nucleus begins to leak out of the disc.
At this point the body begins to fight back by launching an autoimmune response to the disc material (nucleus pulposus). The reaction of this defense mechanism causes severe inflammation and progressive deterioration of the nerve root. If the herniation is located in the cervical spine (neck), the symptoms can range from neck pain, with or without arm pain, to numbness and tingling. Muscle weakness can be common as well.
If the herniated disc is located in the lumbar spine (low back), the symptoms can range from low back pain, with or without leg pain, to numbness and tingling. Muscle weakness is also common. This type of pain and/or numbness in the legs or arms is referred to as a "radiculopathy." This happens because the nerves that exit your spinal cord innervate (attach to) the skin in your arms and legs. They are responsible for sensation and for movement of the muscles in your arms and legs. They are also responsible for the reflexive movements as well. This is the reason some individuals with these conditions experience extremity (leg/arm) pain / numbness / tingling and/or weakness when they have a herniated or bulging disc.
Be aware that, some individuals with herniated discs may report arm or leg pain only, with minimal neck or low back pain. Common complaints resulting from herniated discs include sciatica, parasthesias (numbness), muscle weakness and bowel or bladder problems.
Diagnosis of a herniated disc (either neck or low back) can be made from a thorough physical examination including a detailed history and orthopedic and/or neurological evaluation. Some disc patients will present with an antalgic gait (lean away from the side of the disc lesion), extremity pain/numbness/tingling (abnormal sensation) in addition to neck or low back pain. Muscle weakness may be present in the more chronic cases as well as areflexia (loss of reflex). X-rays can be helpful in identifying degenerative changes of the vertebra, but MRI’s are the gold standard to identify the exact nature of the lesion. When the disc is herniated in the lumbar spine (low back) and it is compressing the spinal nerve roots causing pain and numbness down the buttocks, thigh and leg, it is often referred to as sciatica.
Traditional Treatments for herniated disc includes physical/chiropractic therapy, epidural injections, surgery and painkillers such as non-steroid anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID's). Please keep in mind that NSAID's have an inherent risk of gastrointestinal (GI - stomach and intestinal) disorders such as: perforation, ulceration and hemorrhages.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression offers to treat the root cause of the diseased or pathological disc, based on the anatomical and physiological principles of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression relieves pressure from the disc, which, in turn, relieves pressure from the nerve. Research has shown that Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression can create a negative pressure within the disc, causing a "vacuum effect." This vacuum effect can "suck" the disc material back inside, thus relieving the pressure from the nerve. According to the FDA 510k papers, the definition of decompression is “unloading due to distraction and positioning,” and additionally, “unweighting due to distraction and positioning.” This is important because the unloading of the injured area creates positive changes in the microcirculation of the disc and nerve roots.
Therefore, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for herniated discs is based on the following principles.