Many of our patients call this common condition as “slipped disc”, and it has many names such as herniated disc, disc bulge, rupture spinal disc and even compressed disc.

Structure of a spinal disc

A spinal or more accurately, an intervertebral disc sits between two spine bones (called vertebra) and it’s #1 role is as a cushion to absorb pressure and load.

Kinda like a vehicle’s suspension device

Many people think it’s a jelly-like structure, soft like a jelly, but it’s more like a firm jelly pillow with lots of thing but strong layers of sheets. These sheets are “outside” and called the annulus fibrosus, and it covers the inner ball of jelly that’s called nucleus pulposus.

How the spinal disc works

So the intervertebral disc sits smack between two spinal bones (and there’s one between EVERY 2 spine bones) – when a force is applied to the bones, be it with movement or with external force, the force gets transferred to the disc

1. if the force is from/towards one side, then on that particular side, the disc will be compressed and “squeezed” forwards at the opposite side
2. if the force is equal, then force on the disc is spread out equally on all sides

Problems and complications happen when force happens on one side again-and-again-and-again for an extended period of time, which may can the disc to be damaged and become permanently stretched on one end, and even when it’s “released” is may not return back to default position/size. The more often / more impact / longer one stretches the disc, the longer and looser it gets over time.

Stages of Disc Herniation

Most of the time, our spinal discs dont really “herniate / slip / burst” all of a sudden, unless there is a very high force or trauma. It tends to be a gradual damage process over a period of time.

Starts with a disc bulge

This is the early stage, where the spinal intervertebral disc starts to have difficulties returning back to normal shape after being stretched, and retains the slight bulge.

It can mean that some of the fibres of the spinal disc is damaged or torn with the soft inner jelly spilling out into the disc fibers and not out of the disc itself.

Prolapsed disc

At this point, the disc prolapse is very prominent and the soft inner center jelly has spilled to the outer fibers.

Full spinal disc herniation

All the inner jelly is protuding outside of the disc fibers

Sequestered disc

This means that all the inner jelly material of the spinal disc has leaked out into the outer surrounding areas beyond the disc.

Does / can spinal disc herniation injuries heal?

Depends on what you’re asking.

If you’re asking if it can reverse and heal completely, no, the spilled jelly cannot go back into the disc (firstly); and secondly, it’s also got to do with not having direct blood supply that carries nutrient rich blood that’s required to heal or regenerate injured structures.

In some cases, if there’s mild pain or discomfort but the disc is stable, it may not worsen and patient may “just” require spinal physiotherapy without the need for surgery.

Is slipped disc painful?

This is a hit-and-miss at times – we’ve had

• patients coming in with terrible MRI reports and imaging with severe disc movements…but little to no pains or symptoms
• patients coming in massive back pains but MRI is clear

There’s a couple of nerve endings in the spinal discs, at the edge of the disc, so for some patients who have degenerative disc, bulging or herniated discs may not experience any back pains at all.

That being said, there’s lots of nerve ending in the spine, so if one’s spilled jelly pushes into a nerve or place with lots of nerve ending, that can cause a lot of nerve-related discomfort and pains.

Where To Next?

• Go to Home / Start
• Learn and find out more about your pains (bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves etc) at Pain Conditions & Injuries
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