Symptoms
A ruptured disc may cause back pain and muscle spasms, but a more common complaint is sciatic pain. A ruptured disc can generally be detected by a physical examination alone. Occasionally, a myelogram, CT scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary to confirm diagnosis and determine if surgery is required
Sciatica
A primary cause of
sciatica is a herniated or
bulging intervertebral disc that
compresses the nerve root before
it joins the sciatic nerve.
Several nerve roots leave the
spinal cord and exit through
holes in the sacrum to combine
and form the sciatic nerve,
which then passes between layers
of the buttock muscles into the
deep muscles of the back of the
thigh. Sciatic pain results from the
inflammation of the sciatic
nerve and is usually marked by
pain and tenderness along the
course of the nerve running
across the upper buttocks and
the rear of the thighs.
Terms and Advice
Spinal Adjustment
Refers to the process in which the doctor of chiropractic skillfully applies controlled force into one or more "subluxated" vertebrae of the spine
Back Pain Exercises
Yet another back pain alternative treatment is back pain exercises that show that there is a better way of treating back pain than by taking drugs or even undergoing surgery.