The intervertebral disc is a cushion of cartilage that connects each of the mobile vertebrae to one another. Discs have three main functions: they enable movement of the spine, absorb shocks and impacts, and provide peripheral nerves with enough space to emerge from the spine.
The disc consists of two parts:
- The core
- The ring
The inner nucleus, which has a gelatinous appearance, is surrounded by the fibrous ring, consisting of several outer layers of cartilage.
It is incorrect to believe that a disc can “move” or “slip”: it thins, bulges, or ruptures.
A disc protrusion is a bulge of the nucleus into the weakest fibers of the fibrous ring. This bulging can affect the canal where the nervous system is located. A disc herniation occurs when the gelatinous nucleus completely passes through the fibers of the fibrous ring. The fibers are then ruptured and fragments of the nucleus can be released into the canal containing the nervous system. The disc loses its shock-absorbing function and movement becomes very painful.
The disc is more at risk of injury during rotation or flexion: these movements can cause tears around the circumference of the disc’s annulus fibrosus. Weaknesses in the disc wall are then present, which is conducive to herniation. A herniated disc causes severe, acute pain and significant muscle spasms. The pain can also spread to another part of the body, corresponding to the nerve affected by the bulging disc. In the long term, weakness and decreased muscle tone are noted in the muscles connected to the nerve affected by the herniation.
Did you know
The IDN approach aims to rehydrate the disc so that it can perform its three main functions and, in particular, ensure that there is no interference with the nervous system.
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