Herniated Disc or Intervertebral Disc Herniation?
What is the difference between a spinal hernia and a disc herniation?
Many ask what the difference is between a herniated disc and a slipped disc. In fact, there is none. Both refer to the same phenomenon. In this case, the disc located between the vertebrae bulges out and presses into the spinal canal. If there is nerve involvement, sharp radiating pain or numbness occurs. The more precise term is slipped disc, since it is the disc that bulges, not the spine, so it is actually about disc herniation. However, in common language, the term herniated disc is more widespread.
What is a herniated disc?
Unfortunately, back pain is among the leading symptoms for which people visit their doctors. It can be considered a widespread disease that affects not only the older age group but also the younger generation, and nowadays it can even occur among teenagers. Alongside scoliosis, osteoporosis, and degenerative diseases, the most common problem is herniated disc. Almost everyone has someone in their family or circle of friends who suffers from a herniated disc. Thus, this disease fills everyone with fear. The unbearable severe pain, hopelessness, the strong painkillers that ruin the stomach, the fear of surgery—these are the thoughts that mark the concept of a herniated disc. And let's admit it: rightfully so, as we are facing a very unpleasant disease.
How does a herniated disc develop?
How does a herniated disc develop? Most people think, "I lifted something wrong." Or I moved incorrectly. But these are just the final moments of a process. In the vast majority of cases, we have "produced" the herniated disc ourselves over many years, even decades. It all starts at school. We hunch over the school desk for 8 hours a day, then go home and continue doing homework and studying while sitting on a bad chair. Then we watch TV hunched over a bad chair. Then comes high school, university, and everything is the same. Hunching, hunching, hunching. Then comes the workplace. Sitting, hunching, staring at the monitor.
But what happens in our spine in the meantime?
The flexibility of our spine is provided by the intervertebral discs located between our vertebrae. These are made of a very flexible material and are very durable, providing high load-bearing capacity to our spine. Their outer structure is shell-like, similar to that of an onion. However, due to continuous slouching, greater pressure is persistently exerted on the back wall of the discs, which leads to weakening and damage of the tissues there, and after a while, these tissues can no longer withstand the increased pressure and allow the inner, more liquid core of the disc to bulge out. The inner core protrudes and begins to press on the nerves passing through there. This is the process of developing a herniated disc.
So is it possible to prevent the development of a herniated disc?
Yes, a herniated disc can be prevented! The wheel of time cannot be turned back. Too much sitting is one of the consequences of modern civilization. We sit at school desks, in cars, in front of the TV, and in offices. But the real problem is not sitting itself, but bad sitting posture.
How can we sit properly?
So that we do not slouch. Fortunately, there are aids, spinal cushions, that help us avoid slouching. The wedge cushion, lumbar support, and cylindrical cushion are three tools that, when used, greatly increase the chances of preventing the development of a herniated disc. Of course, using these is not everything. We need to pay more attention to ourselves and take care of our health.
