Herniated Disks

Why a disc herniates

Outside of trauma, herniated discs do not happen overnight. They occur from long term uneven pressure on the disc due to postural dysfunctions caused by muscle imbalances.

Think of a jelly donut. If someone places a lot of pressure on one side and less on the other, the jelly is likely to bulge out the opposite side from the pressure. With enough pressure, the jelly will break through the donut. On the other hand, if the same amount of pressure was placed evenly across the entire donut the jelly might compress but would likely stay intact inside the donut.

Similarly, when muscle imbalances create improper hip and spine posture, the spinal discs between the vertebrae are unnaturally forced to sustain more weight and stress on one side than the other. Eventually, the disc wears down leading to a bulging, herniated or even a ruptured disc.

Herniated Disk Surgery

Herniated disc surgery is still a very common treatment option used when more conservative therapy modalities fail to resolve a chronic disc pain condition. There are a wide range of surgical procedures available to treat herniated discs and degenerative disc disease. It is very important to understand your options when considering surgical intervention, but even more importantly, to be aware of the sizeable risks and complications associated with spinal operations. If you have chronic back pain, or believe you may have a herniated disk, call our office at (305) 559-4833 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gross.