Your spine is one of the most important parts of your body. It runs up your back giving your body structure and helping to ensure you can stand upright. But, it is also home to a major part of your nerve network; allowing signals to be sent to and from your brain. This effectively controls many of your response, both automatic and conscious decisions.
There are actually 33 individual bones in the spine, stacked on top of each other. Unfortunately, injuring any one of these can cause issues with your movement and leave you in pain. That’s why it’s important to understand the various conditions and to know how to treat them.
Bulging Disc
If you have pain in your neck or back then it could be caused by a bulging disc. The spine is made up of multiple discs to allow you to bend and twist in virtually any direction. Each disc has two parts, the outer part is rings of fibrocartilage, while the inner part is a gel; much like a soft chocolate. What’s clever is that each of these discs can move independently and the inside of the disc can move without the outside moving.In effect, these don’t just allow you to flex and bend; they also absorb shocks.
But, if you place too much strain on any of your discs, the inner jelly-like substance can move inside the disc further than t should. This will cause it to push against the outer disc and create a bump, or bulge. At this point, the inner jelly is still contained by the disc, but the bulge will push against the nerves and blood vessels running up your spine. This can cause pain or even numbness in various parts of your body.
If the inner jelly-like substance actually ruptures the outer disc then you’ll have a herniated disc. It’s a good idea to see a specialist brain surgeon; who will also specialize in spinal issues. They can help to diagnose the issue and ensure you take the right steps to get better.
The good news is that it is possible to recover from a bulging or herniated disc.
The Cause
The most common cause of a bulging disc is when you have tried to lift something too heavy and have adopted a poor lifting position. It can also be caused by repetitive lifting; even if the object is not heavy! The real key to protecting your spine and discs is by lifting properly every time you lift. In short, bend your knees and keep your back straight.You’ll find that people who smoke, are obese, or have poor muscle strength, are at higher risk of experiencing bulging discs. If you’re in one of these categories you should consider changing your habits.