HERNIATED DISC

The above picture of the spine shows normal disc spaces as well as one that contains a ruptured or herniated disc (video). The above model depicts the lower back area. The red area indicates a disc whose outer boundaries have ruptured allowing the inner contents to be forced out. Once the material leaves the disc, the opening closes and it is very unlikely that it will be recaptured.

The material is then trapped in the space between the disc and the nerve, usually favoring one side. The nerve is illustrated in yellow in the above picture. Notice that the nerve comes out from the spine through an opening formed by the way two adjacent vertebrae fit together.

A rupture can occur anywhere in the spine but the most common region is the lower back, due to the weight the low back is subjected to over time. In most cases, surgery is required to relieve the pressure on the nerve.

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Blue Ridge Chiropractic Center