What is a slipped disc?
"I have got slipped discs can you just pop them back in for me"I certainly cannot! Slipped discs are the movement of the nucleus pulposus the internal fluid part of intervertebral discs through the annulus fibrous the tough fibrocartilagenous part of the intervertebral disc. Putting the nucleus back into the annulus would be similar to trying to put toothpaste back into the tube you have just squeezed it from.
The big problem about discs is you never know precisely what they will do, whether they are oozing, prolasped fully or just bulging this is a terribly tricky clinical conundrum.
We can give you an idea of which disc you have prolasped and what tissues are being congested by that prolaspe, dependant upon the symptoms you present with.
Treating disc injury is a long, slow and patient process which at any moment can be thwarted by a sneeze a stumble or heavy cough,sudden jerky movement, deep flexion bending, lifting inappropriately.
There is a concensus that the best thing for discs is slow gentle rehabilitation observing radicular neurolgical and pelvic sphincter signs which may generate a more worrying clinical picture leaving the patient with no option than micro-discectomy,...... which can appear to be miraculous and sometimes not.
Osteopathically we ask the question why has that disc prolapsed?...and why at that level and not another? In the majority of cases it is mechanical, the few that are not are easily sifted through detailed case history, prior to any treatment rehab regime commencing. In many many cases patience and patient co-operation with carefully considered rehab protocols; sees those patients arriving at their MRI scan symptom free, however, the scan reveals a disc prolapse the question is would they have been offered surgery if they had symptoms with the scan results never to know if the condition with conservative treatment would have stabilised and become symptom free. My advice is to be patient get early diagnosis and advice from your osteopath who will endeavour to guide you to the best route of treatment for your individual case.
If you are suffering with what you think is a prolasped disc (slipped disc) , do not hesitate to get an Osteopathic opinion of your particular case. You will be directed in the best way for you. To resolve and protect your back and your discs from worsening unnecessarilly by long waits for sometimes inconclusive investigations and test and treatments that delude or in some cases exacerbate and in the worsts cases leave you with no way back.