Herniated Disc

Disc, as we know is just a balloon like structure with a jelly like thick thing (Nucleus Pulposus) inside. This jelly is surrounded by layers of ligaments (Annular Fibres). When this jelly starts pushing the outer layer. These fibres tear (Annular Tear) and now jelly peeps outside. This condition is known as disc herniation and this disc is Herniated Disc.

So here are two things, which make a disc herniated disc-

  1. Pressure of the inner core (nucleus pulposus) on the annular fibres.
  2. When these fibres can bear this pressure and de-shape – this is bulged disc.
  3. But when pressure is too much and fibres are weak. Fibres tear. And inner jelly of the disc starts oozing out in the canal.
  4. This stage is – Herniated disc.

What is a normal spinal disc

What is Herniated Disc

A spinal disc which looses its elasticity. Starts moving on outer side. The fibres tear up and jelly of the disc herniates in the empty space where neural tissue is present. This jelly compresses the nerves and causes all neural symptoms. This disc is – Herniated Disc.

Hernaited Disc

Here is the illustration of a normal disc and a herniated disc. The difference is clear above.

Difference between Bulged and Herniated Disc

How Does a Disc Herniates

Herniated disc is result of different processes. This doesn’t appear all of sudden. Here are the steps –

  1. Degenerative Disc Disease: When nutrition is not adequate to the disc and it starts showing signs of Ageing in any age.
  2. Desiccated Disc: When water content of the disc reduces and this dries up, this condition is- desiccation of the disc.
  3. Bulged Disc: In this state jelly of the disc displaces and starts pushing the outer layer. Disc looses its shape and starts bulging on sides.
  4. Herniated Disc: Now when we have not done anything for above three conditions. Disc will rupture and jelly will come out in the canal and this is our topic for this page.
Process of disc herniation and types of herniated disc.

Certainly this is not a normal condition. This appears as a consequence of all conditions above.

When Surgery is must in Bulged Disc

All About Disc Herniation

When one gets the MRI and report says – disc herniation. Many questions pop up in mind. And you keep on looking for these answers. The era of information technology is a boon for this, but confuses patients also. Because in many cases these are content writers who write down the content in a marketing language and cannot express well a medical condition.

We have our Ayurveda spine expert Vaidya Pardeep Sharma with us. Here are answers to your main queries on disc herniation.

How long does a normal disc take to herniate?

This is a process through which a disc herniates. It never appear all of a sudden in the body. But it seems to many patients that because of lifting weight, running fast, jerk while travelling – a disc herniates.
But it is not alone about these accidents or incidents.
It takes months and years in developing of the problem like this.

Why does a disc herniate?

There are several regions behind herniation of a disc. The most common cause nowadays behind disc herniation is “speedy process of ageing” . Degenerative changes are appearing in human body before time and these changes cause the disc herniation before time in human spine.

Does a herniated disc hurt when you touch it?

Not really. This area where you have disc herniation is sore because of the inflammation in the muscles and local tissue. Disc doesn’t have any neurological tissues within therefore a disc is free from sensation of pain.

What are the diagnostic tests herniated disc?

MRI is the only way to visualise a herniated disc. Xray and CT scan cannot make a note on condition of your disc. Therefore once you are suffering from chronic pain and your level of pain is high. Don’t wait. Go for an MRI so that you can plan to treat this condition.

How painful is a herniated disc?

Disc is not painful. Disc causes the pain because of compression on the nerves. Where the disc is herniated and how much compression it is causing on the nerves- decides the intensity and severity of pain. Therefore your pain depends on the compression caused by a herniated disc.

What are the symptoms of disc herniation?

A herniated disc can cause different neurological and neuromuscular conditions.

  • Pain due to nerve compression
  • Numbness in the affected region.
  • Inability in walking.
  • Pain in lower back or neck.
  • Radiation of pain in affected muscles.
  • Complete loss of movement in

Ayurveda About Herniated Disc

Ages back without any MRI or any diagnostic tools how can Ayurveda know about disc herniation?

This question sounds valid.

But Ayurveda has a very profound understanding about the human body. This completes Ayurveda as a science. When we put it with alternative systems of treatment. Ayurveda is different. Because Ayurveda is the only ancient science where seers have described the human body in a far better way.

This deep understanding was ignored and not utilised clinically for more than a century and that is when Allopathy took on and flourished.

While discussing ayurveda about herniated disc. We need to understand channel based approach of Ayurveda – Srotas. And scientific exposition of this model in terms of pathological process.

Srotas: Human Body as a network of Channels

For any biological process inside the human body, we need some processes. These processes occur in a pattern.

These channels are not visible canals.

This is a theory based on the “hypothetical-visualisation”. Something “A” changes to “B”. This change is a process. A journey. And for this journey we need a passage. If there is some hinderance in this passage. Process cannot complete. Or some change will take place.

The affected neurological channels- where neurophysiological actions take place- are if blocked; four different conditions will appear-

  • Atipravurtti : Excessive Activity- In case of nervous system there will be excessive sensation of the pain. Pain which should come because of an injury, travels in opposite direction.
  • Sanga: Arrest of activity: Complete loss of sensation.
  • Vimarg Gamana: Unwanted activities- paresthesia, tingling, burning etc. different conditions.
  • Sira Granthi: accumulation of normal physiological activity- conditions like foot drop can appear.

These conditions appear because of the blockage of the channels and the treatment should be aimed at opening of these channels

Disc Herniation As per Ayurveda

Every joint according to Ayurveda is filled with a very unique Dhatu- Majja. Majja is a dhatu, which helps the body for normal activities.

Majja Dhatu helps the spine in doing different activities-

  1. Helps in the movement of the spine.
  2. Ensures flexibility of the spine and spinal discs.
  3. Gives greasiness to the disc and spine.
  4. Helps in keeping the discs in its space.

When there are certain changes in the Majja Dhatu and these commonly occur amidst of process of ageing and injuries.

As per Ayurvedic Text, the when Majja Dhatu is affected a patient will be affected with neurological disorders “Pratatam Vata Roginam“.

So the major thing in case of a herniated disc is-

  1. Vata Srotas Dushti
  2. Majja Kshaya.

These two conditions explains the condition of disc herniation from Ayurvedic point of view.

Under the guidance of Ayurvedic Spine specialist Vaidya Dr. Pardeep Sharma’s we at Sukhayu explore and expose every disease in the same way and treat these conditions.

A herniated disc can come to its natural position through Ayurvedic treatment, for sure and we have done number of cases for the same condition. You can find number of stories where you will find the naturally cured patients of the herniated disc.