- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
Intervertebral Disc
Inflammation and Disc Pain
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Inflammation and Disc Pain
Nerve endings along the outside of the disc tend to be silent unless exposed to inflammatory chemicals like substance P and PLA2. These chemicals occur in higher concentrations in injured and degenerative discs. A zone of inflammation can develop between a disc herniation and an adjacent spinal nerve. Within the zone of inflammation other factors can promote the inflammatory process such as the presence of rising concentrations of inflammatory chemicals, reduced blood supply, scar tissue, and abnormal friction between different tissues.
Diagnostic imaging tests like MRI and CT scans are good at detecting structural abnormalities such as a disc herniation, nerve compression and even the presence of large amounts of scar tissue. These studies are incapable of detecting small amounts of scar tissue, the presence of inflammation or inflammatory chemicals. Spinal X-rays do not reveal scar tissue or the presence of inflammation. X-rays also do not reveal the actual integrity of the spinal cord or the spinal nerves.
When the outer supportive (annular) fibers of the disc tear, it creates a gap between the ends of the normal tissues. Scar tissue forms within the area of the tear and sets the stage for nerve fibers to migrate or grow into this portion of the disc. This healing process can make the intervertebral disc more pain sensitive. The development of scar tissue also promotes the formation of chemicals, which can sensitize or stimulate the nerve endings causing pain. However it is known, but poorly understood why some patients with disc degeneration or herniation never develop chronic disc-related back pain.
Diagnostic imaging tests like MRI and CT scans are good at detecting structural abnormalities such as a disc herniation, nerve compression and even the presence of large amounts of scar tissue. These studies are incapable of detecting small amounts of scar tissue, the presence of inflammation or inflammatory chemicals. Spinal X-rays do not reveal scar tissue or the presence of inflammation. X-rays also do not reveal the actual integrity of the spinal cord or the spinal nerves.
When the outer supportive (annular) fibers of the disc tear, it creates a gap between the ends of the normal tissues. Scar tissue forms within the area of the tear and sets the stage for nerve fibers to migrate or grow into this portion of the disc. This healing process can make the intervertebral disc more pain sensitive. The development of scar tissue also promotes the formation of chemicals, which can sensitize or stimulate the nerve endings causing pain. However it is known, but poorly understood why some patients with disc degeneration or herniation never develop chronic disc-related back pain.
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