Disc Herniation

A Disc Herniation is when the nucleus pulposus goes beyond its normal barriers outside the annular fibers.  There are many ways to describe this based on how far the disc herniates from an extrusion, protrusion, sequestration, involution, and herniation. 

Symptoms

Disc herniations may or may not cause pain, but most people do suffer some type of pain or dysfunction.  These dysfunctions may include pain, local inflammation, muscle weakness, and diminished deep tendon reflexes and changes in sensation.  Some patients may experience added pain while having a bowel movement due to the increased intra-thecal pressure.  These symptoms are usually exacerbated through orthopedic testing and further imaging is needed to make a diagnosis such as a MRI or CT scan. 

Tests

Some of the orthopedic tests for cervical disc herniation diagnosis include: Valsalva’s Maneuver, and Swallowing Test.  Orthopedic tests that help to confirm a lumbar disc herniation include: Antalgia Sign, Bechterew’s Test, Bilateral Leg-Lowering Test, Bonnet’s Test, Bowstring Sign, Braggard’s Sign, Breig and Troup Test, Centralization Test, Cox Sign, Dejerine’s Triad, Deyerle’s Sign, Femoral Nerve Traction Test, Lewin Supine Test, Lewin’s Punch Test, and Milgram’s Test.  By performing all these tests it quantifies the likelihood of whether a disc herniation is present or not. 

Treatments

Treatment for a well-contained disc herniation is Chiropractic care.  When the disc herniation is past the point of what Chiropractic care can improve, then surgery is recommended.  An effective treatment at reducing pain and local inflammation due to disc herniation is the Cox Flexion/Distraction Technique.  This technique decompresses the spine and allows blood to nourish the spine and reduce pain and inflammation.  It reduces radiculopathy, or pain sensations that travel down the legs while restoring motion to the spine and extremities.