What Is A Disc Herniation?

First, it should be understood that this is not being written by a doctor. So this is not medical advice nor an exhaustive medical description of disc herniations. Everyone knows that there are bones in the back that make up the backbone. Those bones are called vertebrae. In between each one of the bones is material that looks much like a disc. These discs provide cushion between the bones and allows energy to be absorbed by the body for example when you jump up and down. So they’re like shock absorbers.

Additionally, the spinal chord runs through the discs and the bones from your neck down to your tail bone. A herniation occurs when the disc is put under so much force that the integrity of the disc fails and a piece pops out and touches the spinal chord. Where the disc and the chord touch can cause pain, numbness, and other symptoms.

A good example of a dis herniation is to think of it like a jelly donut. If you push one side of the donut enough, the jelly will burst through the other side. If the jelly touches the spinal chord and it’s nerves, that person can have symptoms related to that contact.