Spinal discs are like shock absorbers for your spine.  They protect your spinal cord and provide flexibility of your spine.  The disc is made up of an inner and outer layer.  The outer layer is known as the annulus fibrosis and is made up of thick rings.  The inner layer is called the nucleus pulposis and is made up of a jelly-like substance which is primarily water.  These discs sit in between our vertebrae.

Disc Bulge is a less severe disc problem.  This is the distortion or slight tearing of the disc’s outer most layer.  Although this is usually not a surgical situation, it can be very painful.  This can be caused by trauma, repetitive stress or illness.

Disc Protrusion or Herniation is a more significant injury.  This injury occurs when the outer layers of the disc are completely torn and some of the inner layer leaks through.  Sometimes the inner material or pieces of the outer layer can cause nerve compression.  In very cases, the spinal cord can become compressed.  This injury is very painful.  This can be caused by trauma, repetitive stress or illness.

Degenerative Disc Disease is the most frequent and most common spinal disorder.  This is when the disc looses water and dry out, causing the space between the vertebral bodies to narrow.  This can cause the spinal column to become unstable so the vertebral bodies grow spurs along the edges of the vertebrae.  This can be caused by genetic predisposition, repetitive stress or trauma.