The Discs are sandwiched between the vertebrae (bones) in the spine. The technical name is “Intervertebral Disc.”
A normal, healthy disc is like a jelly donut surrounded by a tire. The jelly donut portion is the nucleus pulposus. The tire is a tough outer ring called the annulus fibrosis.
The normal function of the disc depends on this “jelly donut” staying where it belongs…inside the “tire.” If your discs are healthy, your spine is flexible and can move freely without pain.
The discs take a huge amount of physical pressure. They act like shock absorbers for your entire spine, from neck to lower back.
Why Do Discs Degenerate?
Simple loss of water is a common reason for disc degeneration. The disc is made of cartilage…Cartilage is made of water and protein. As you get older, it’s easier to lose water and protein from the disc–especially if you suffer physical trauma, have poor posture or have weak “core” muscles.
Degenerated discs are dangerous. A thin disc is more fragile, weaker and more prone to bulging disc and herniated disc.
Why Does a Degenerated Disc Cause Pain?
A degenerated disc causes the spine to crush itself–as if someone knocked the bricks out of the foundation of a house.
The spinal bones slowly collapse on top of each other causing pain, inflammation, irritation, and stiffness.
Any disc in the spine can degenerate–the neck, upper back, middle back or lower back.
Degenerative Disc Disease can cause
- Cervicalgia — pain in the neck
- Thoracalgia — pain in the upper and middle back
- Lumbago or Lumbalgia — pain in the lower back.
Degenerative Disc Disease is also known as “spondylosis.” On MRI and X-Rays you can see that the space between the vertebrae–where the disc is—is thinned or narrowed because the disc is degenerating and wearing down.
Next Steps…
If you’ve already been disappointed by any of these common treatments:
- Injections
- Physical Therapy
- Massage Therapy
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Medications such as pain relievers and muscle relaxers
…then it’s time to do something different for Degenerative Disc pain. The Back Pain Machine™ could give you quick relief from your Degenerative Disc Pain.
