The Fire Inside

Speaking of a fire that can burn within us, this office sees more than its share of spinal disc and disc-related issues, including herniated discs.

A herniated disc refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (discs) between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack up to make your spine.

A spinal disc is a little like a jelly donut, with a softer center encased within a tougher exterior. Sometimes called a slipped disc or a ruptured disc, a herniated disk occurs when some of the softer "jelly" pushes out through a tear in the tougher exterior.

A herniated disc can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. On the other hand, many people experience no symptoms from a herniated disc. Most people who have a herniated disc don't need surgery to correct the problem.

If you or a family member have herniated disc-related symptoms, I'll be happy to take a look.

Stay well adjusted,

Dr. Dan Kammer