What is a Herniated Disc? - Dr. Brian Prieto

Understanding Herniated Discs: Dr. Brian Prieto Yorba Linda Chiropractor Explains

Welcome to Prieto Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression Center, located in North Orange County, Yorba Linda, California. I'm Dr. Brian Prieto, and today, we're exploring the question: "What is a herniated disc?"

First, let's understand the basic anatomy involved with a herniated disc. Imagine the spine as a stack of vertebral bodies separated by discs, which I like to refer to as the disc complex. These discs act as cushions, preventing the vertebrae from rubbing against each other. They are made of a tough, cartilage-like outer layer and a softer, gel-like center known as the nucleus pulposus.
When this disc structure fails, it results in what we commonly call a herniated disc. You might also hear terms like bulging disc, disc protrusion, or disc extrusion, which refer to the specifics of how the disc material is misaligned or extruded.

Using MRI technology or magnetic resonance imaging, we can precisely identify and measure these herniations. For example, in the lumbar spine, a 1thru 3 millimeter herniation is considered mild, while a 4-6 millimeter is considered moderate and a 7 millimeter or larger herniation would be severe. These measurements help us understand the severity of the condition and plan the appropriate treatment.
Herniated discs can protrude laterally, towards the foraminal canal, or centrally towards the spinal canal. Symptoms can vary based on the herniation's location, ranging from pain in one leg due to a lateral herniation to numbness or pain in both legs from a central herniation.

This video is part of our educational series on spinal health, aiming to provide you with a clear understanding of spinal conditions and their treatments. For more information on herniated discs and other spinal issues, check out our other videos.

Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to helping you achieve better spinal health at Prieto Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression Center.