Slipped Disc

The spine is made up of the vertebrae (the bones making up the spine), which have cartilage discs between them.

The discs consist of a circle of connective tissue with a central gel-like core. This makes the spine flexible and at the same time acts as a protective buffer.

In the center of this column of vertebrae and discs is the spinal canal, which contains the spinal cord stretching from the brain-stem down to the first or second lumbar vertebra. It continues as a bundle of nerve fibers called the cauda equina stretching down towards the sacrum, which is the extension of the spine. Between each vertebra, the spinal cord has nerve root connections to other parts of the body.

The spine is divided into three parts

• Neck (cervical vertebrae)
• Chest (thoracic vertebrae)
• The lower back (lumbar vertebrae).

The spine is connected to the ribs at the chest.

A slipped disc occurs due to the breaking down of the circle of connective tissue with advancing age. This causes a weakness allowing the soft part to swell.

Slipped discs most often affect the lower back and are relatively rare in the chest part of the spine.

It is possible that hard physical labour can increase the likelihood of a slipped disc. They are also occasionally seen following trauma such as an injury from a fall or a road traffic accident.

A slipped disc in the lower back is most often seen between the ages of 30 and 50. In the cervical vertebrae around the neck, slipped discs are most often seen between the ages of 40 and 60.

A slipped disc can be symptom free. If it causes pain, it is primarily due to the pressure on the nerve roots, the spinal cord or cauda equina.

1. Symptoms of nerve root pressure
   Paralysis of single muscles, possibly with pain radiating to the arms or legs. There may also be a disturbance of feeling in the limbs.
2. Symptoms of pressure on the spinal cord
   Disturbance of feeling, muscle spasms or paralysis in the part of the body below the spinal cord pressure. For example, pressure on the spinal cord in the chest area will cause spasms in the legs but not in the arms.
   Pressure on the spinal cord may cause problems with control of the bladder.
3. Symptoms of pressure on the cauda equina
   The symptoms can include loss of control of the bladder function, disturbance of feeling in the rectum and the inside of the thighs and paralysis of both legs. These are serious symptoms and anyone developing them should contact a doctor immediately.

The conventional medicine advises conservative treatment through rest and heat therapy for the management of this condition. But surgery or intrathecal injections are require d if the pain is very acute and / or there is impending nerve damage.

Ayurveda also advocates that the nerve compression due to a slipped disc is to be controlled aggressively and a proper rest is to be observed. Once the acute phase passes then yogic exercises and postures, along with the maintenance therapies and herbal medicines offer adequate relief and prevents relapse. This approach offers better cure in most of the cases except those requiring surgery as an emergency measure, and also in certain case which are refractory to conventional treatment.

The special methods used are Kati basti, Greeva basti, patrapinda sweda and yogic exercises(after the acute stage).