When you talk about a disc in your spine what does that really mean?
In technical terms, a spinal disc is an intervertebral disc, which is a fibrocartilaginous structure located between the vertebral bodies of the spinal column. These discs act as shock absorbers for the spine and allow for flexibility and movement.
Each intervertebral disc is composed of two parts: the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosus is the outer portion of the disc and is composed of concentric layers of fibrocartilage. This strong and flexible outer layer helps to contain and support the nucleus pulposus, which is the gel-like center of the disc. The nucleus pulposus is composed of water, collagen, and proteoglycans, and helps to distribute pressure evenly across the disc during spinal movement.
The intervertebral discs are essential for maintaining the height and curvature of the spine, and for absorbing shock and pressure during daily activities such as walking, bending, and lifting. They also act as a ligament to hold the vertebrae of the spine together.
While the intervertebral discs are strong and durable, they can become damaged over time or as a result of injury or trauma. Disc degeneration can lead to disc herniation, bulging, or rupture, which can cause pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. Additionally, trauma to the spine, such as in a car accident, can cause the discs to compress, bulge or herniate, resulting in a range of spinal cord and nerve issues.
What is disc pain?
Discs are in fact quite pain sensitive and when injured, or torn, they can cause direct pain and indirect pain. The direct pain is from the tearing of the disc fibers, the annulus fibrosus. The indirect pain is when the disc material from the center of the disc, the nucleus pulposus, seeps out and causes pressure on nerves or chemical irritation. Either way, the pain can be mild, moderate or severe and debilitating. A disc injury is not really anything to mess around with and can cause many other issues including permanent loss of bladder and bowel control called cauda equine syndrome.
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