Herniated Disk Treatment
Treatment for a Herniated Lumbar Disk
Copyright (c) 2006 Ted Crawford
Lower back pain caused by a herniated lumbar disc is a very common problem and a
major reason for lost productivity and time off the job in the United States.
First a bit about what a "disk" is. Our vertebrae (spinal bones) are cushioned
by pads of tissue called disks. The disks are made up of a outer capsule or
ring called the annulus which is made up of a tough fiber amterail. It
surrounds a nucleus, which is a spongy center of "jelly" material.
When disks
are healthy and working like they should, they serve as shock absorbers to the
spine and keep us flexible. When the disks are damaged somehow by an injury or
age or disease, they begin to bulge abnormally and can even rupture (the
jelly-like material breaks through the tough outer layer. This is called a
herniated disk. Herniated disks can occur anywhere in the spine, but most of
them take place in the lumbar (low back) region.
|