Preventing Low Back Pain and Disc Injury in Little Falls, NJ

Hi, I’m Dr. Joann Giesenhaus with Core Chiropractic. I want to talk to you about disc problems—what they really are—because sometimes they can be confusing. Is it a bulging disc? A herniated disc? What does that even mean?

Let’s take a deeper dive into what’s really going on.

Anatomy of the Spine and Discs

Here’s a model of the low back spine. I’ll lay it flat here so we can take a good look. You’ve likely heard of the lumbar discs—it’s so common, right? These are the disc spaces in between each vertebra. They act as cushions, providing shock absorption.

Think of it like a sponge. A wet sponge has a lot of give and cushion. A dry, brittle sponge? Not so much. That’s the idea here.

Now, I want you to also picture a jelly donut. Around the disc is a tougher, more fibrous layer—the crust. This gives the disc structure and bounce. Inside, there’s a jelly-like substance, which provides essential nutrients, blood flow, and internal compression support. These parts work together to nourish and maintain a healthy disc.

What Happens During Wear and Tear

Over time, due to wear and tear or uncorrected vertebral subluxations, these bones in the spine—which should be nice and even—start to shift. You may begin to see uneven wear, even holes or rough patches forming on the bone surface.

The disc, in turn, begins to change. It becomes brittle. It breaks down. That jelly inside? It starts to push out.

Down the spine, we can see degeneration. That healthy disc space starts narrowing. You’ve heard the term: bone on bone. That’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid.

Stages of Disc Degeneration

There are multiple stages:

Phase 1: Slight changes begin.

Phase 2: Disc structure weakens.

Phase 3: Advanced breakdown.

Beyond Phase 3: You’re now looking at spinal surgery, potentially dangerous medications, and opioids. We want to avoid this at all costs.

If left uncorrected, the disc can bulge to the point where it presses against the spinal cord or spinal nerves. This can cause pain, sciatica, and even symptoms like constipation, menstrual issues, and digestive problems—because those nerves control everything in the body.

Early Symptoms and Progression

You might start with something small: a little nagging low back pain. It comes and goes. You ice it. It seems to go away. But without addressing the cause, it gets worse.

Eventually, the disc might press up against a nerve, leading to intense pain, radiating discomfort, and serious mobility issues. Sciatica might flare up, or the nerve pain might become so debilitating that you feel like you can’t do anything.

And if it progresses far enough, the disc may become completely flattened—true bone-on-bone degeneration. That’s when surgery often gets mentioned.

Prevention Is the Best Medicine

It is absolutely crucial not to let your spine get to that point. Regular chiropractic care can help identify vertebral subluxations early on. If we locate them, we can correct and stabilize them—so you can continue living the life you want to live.

I’m Dr. Joann with Core Chiropractic. Thank you for taking the time to learn about your spine and how important it is to care for it proactively.