Disc Protrusion

Disc protrusion is among the most common spinal disc problems to cause pain in neck or lower back. These changes are related to the process of ageing. When impact of age comes to the disc and a sudden injury both can cause disc protrusion of the spinal disc. Age here doesn’t mean- the years. Age is more concerned to the “carelessness” towards the human body. This carelessness might be because of the sitting in wrong posture or about overusing of the spinal muscles, discs due to wrong movements and postures. Approach of Ayurveda about disc protrusion is very much clear, that we learn here.

Disc protrusion occurs because of the compression on the spinal discs. When spinal discs have a normal space for them, between the vertebral bodies, these function smoothly. Moment the nutritional supply to these discs hampers, then it leads to several problems with the disc and disc protrusion is one of these conditions. Certainly with age some changes will appear to the disc, but these changes are never always problematic. A protruded disc may remain silent for years, when it occurs with normal process of ageing. But if this condition appears before a particular age, it will show different signs and symptoms.

Dis Protrusion: A Journey of Disc problems

When ageing impacts the human body, the most common phenomenon which appears is- lack of flexibility and lack of smoothness. Dryness and ageing goes hand in hand. Where movement is too much there changes related to dryness will be more evident. This is the reason, ageing first impacts on the joints, muscles and ligaments. That’s why spine is the most vulnerable part for these changes.

But these changes never appear overnight. This all happens in a pattern of journey. A process. The following path it takes for the journey of the problem…

1. It starts with weakening. The best oleation in the body is hyderation of the disc materials inside. When some pressure reduces the intervertebral space between these different vertebrae. It starts pressing the disc. The small blood cappilaries, which carry blood and nutrition to the disc breaks and now disc starts decaying. This is the lack of flexibility in the disc, which start “flowing” the jelly in all directions- dependant on the muscle pressure. This is about degenerative disc disease.
2. Now this protruded disc- keeps moving and it tears the annular ligament of the disc. Annular ligaments are rounded ligaments which contain the disc inside. With pressure built-up jelly keeps pressing hard to these ligaments and now these starts tearing apart. This is about bulging disc.
3. When pressure is steady and ligaments tear completely. This leads to the herniation of the disc. Now in this state jelly starts peeping out of the disc.

So these are just the stages of the disc, which come under disc protrusion. These terms are used interchangeably by physicians and radiologists. The terms a radiologist selects for making your MRI report is entirely an issue of selecting medical terms, alone. This the reason confusion between different words keep on building.

Symptoms of Disc Protrusion

Spine is a complicated structure always. It carries- muscles, ligaments, bones, discs, joints and most complicated structure of the body- spinal cord. Spinal cord offshoots branches on every level, which are – nerve roots. These nerve roots emerge from the foramina in the spinal column.

Discs in this structure is meant to give smooth movements to the spine. Discs ensure that there wont be any shock on the bones because of movements. This is the only reason we are able to move the spine in all directions, without resistance. Just on the inner sides of the disc there is a passage for the nerves. These nerves or better to say nerve roots make nerves to supply to different areas of the body.

When there is some problem with the disc and it starts touching, rubbing or pressing the nerves many symptoms appear. The main symptoms due to disc protrusion are-

• Pain in back or neck, which lasts longer.
• Numbness and tingling sensation in the body, in accordance to the supply of the nerve root involved
• Sciatica Pain
• Reduced flexibility of the body.
• Stiffened muscles
• Sore muscles
• Weakness in muscles.

Location of problem defines the symptoms more accurately. When there is disc protrusion is in the neck- it will impact on the upper extremities. Disc protrusion in Lumbar region will lead to problems in the lower limbs. Cervical and lumbar these are the only regions where we have a lot of flexibility in the spine. Thus these all problems occur in the neck and back more.

Approach of Ayurveda about Disc Protrusion

Approach of Ayurveda about disc protrusion is based on two concepts of Ayurveda. Dhatu Siddhant and Dosha theory. These are the Doshas which are behind the condition of slip disc always. Same is applicable here.

Dhatus are seven in number. These seven dhatus are responsible for holding human body together. One of these Dhatus is majja dhatu. Majja is defined as-

The tissues located in the joints and

The tissue which is located with in bone cavity.

Thus Majja is representing both- spinal disc and neural tissues.

When it comes to the disturbance of the Majja dhatu and it is decaying. It makes a person’s Vata doshas completely disturbed. Same happens in case of spinal patient. This approach of ayurveda about disc protrusion works well in all cases of spine. When it comes to Ayurvedic treatment of disc protrusion, we follow the same approach and give the best in class treatment to the patients for spinal disc problems.

So if you are suffering from some problems, please share your all the details and Vaidya Pardeep will check all your reports in person and will guide you for success of the treatment for your spinal disc problem.

Vaidya Pardeep Sharma

Vaidya Dr. Pardeep Sharma is “Chief Ayurvedic Physician” at Sukhayu Ayurved Jaipur. He is an M.D. (Ayurveda) doctor. He is the founder of the “Sukhayu Ayurved” and working with patients clinically since last 15 years. Vaidya Ji is well known for his specialisation in Ayurvedic treatment of different ailments. Among these diseases “To set the slipped disc to normal” is one. Vaidya Dr. Pardeep does it according to the scientific principles of Ayurveda. Under his