Slipped disc

Disc Prolapse (Latin prolapse nuclei pulposi, Discusprolaps, including disk herniation, BSP) is a disease of the spine, the parts of the intervertebral disc fall into the spinal canal (the space in which lies the spinal cord).

In contrast to the disc protrusion (bulging) is the prolapse of the fibrous cartilage ring of the intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus) ruptured in whole or in part while the posterior longitudinal ligament is intact (so-called herniated disc).  A herniated disc can also occur without any apparent reason.

Symptoms of herniated disc are strong, often radiating pain in the extremities, often with a numbness in the distribution of the trapped nerve root, and sometimes paralysis. Treatment is conservative in most cases but possible serious incidents must be treated surgically.

Cause

Slipped Disc: The prolapsed intervertebral disc tissue, almost always shares fibrocartilage rings that are concentrically arranged around the so-called nucleus, it pushes the contents of the spinal canal and/or nerve root. 1 spine, 2 dorsal, 3 spinal, 4 Ventralwurzel, 5 spinal nerve, Volume 6 + 7 Disc: 6 Fiber Ring, 7 Degenerate nucleus, in between the cartilage ring, 8 vertebral

Discs are bradytrophic tissue, which means they are not powered directly from the bloodstream out of nutrients, but by diffusion. The semi-permeable membranes separate the cartilaginous rings.  Forces can tear the membranes, making them lose their function and the intervertebral disc nucleus, together with the disc (nucleus pulposus) dries out (black disc lesion).

When it comes to a herniated disc, the nucleus is practically no longer in its original form. The herniated disc thus arises mostly at the bottom of a long pre-damaged disk.

The nucleus (about 80% water) in the healthy intervertebral disc consists of a jelly-like, cell-poor tissue, together with the cartilaginous rings and the membranes of the function of a hydraulic ball (water cushion). The vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks allow the front with the rear facet joints (facet joints), the high mobility of the entire spine, but also its high stability.

The human spine has 23 discs. Counted between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. Thus the head in pitch (Atlas) and Rotate (Axis) is given the necessary freedom of movement. In addition, there are the main focus nerves and the blood supply to the head.

There are several causes for a herniated disc: genetic weaknesses, one-sided burden or a weakness of the paravertebral, that is located next to the vertebrae muscles. The only accidental injury or damage to the intervertebral disc has not been proven as a cause-effect chain – corresponding to the conflicting arguments which are rarely recognized by professional associations and social courts.

Healthy disc tissue is traditionally accepted, if there are any tears, together with a piece of bone from the vertebral body. Often a herniated disc also occurs during pregnancy.  Other favorable factors in humans are erect posture and gravity.

There are many old people aged over 90 years, who never complain of the spine or the spinal discs. On the other hand there are children who have had to suffer a herniated disc.  Possible causes for the rapid rise of herniated discs at the present time are lack of exercise and poor posture, especially for office work.

Obesity is not a risk factor rather because people are prone because of abdominal fat weight to avoid a pronounced post-frontal curvature of the spine. The average age at diagnosis is 40 years, and the most commonly affected vertebra is the lumbar area. Less commonly affected are the cervical and thoracic vertebrae which are very rare. The ratio is about 100 to 10 to 1.

• Slipped disc Symptoms
• Slipped disc Treatment