You have probably heard the term “slipped disc”, often it is often used very loosely.
A true slipped disc is referring to a disc bulge or disc herniation. This can happen throughout the spine but most often in the neck and low back.
Your intervertebral discs are filled in the centre with a material that can shift if the back is injured in a certain way.
Typical physical demands will most commonly shift the center of the disc towards the back of the spine where the spinal cord and nerve roots are. (Think of squishing a jelly donut from the front, the jelly will be pushed out the back)
This can compress the nerves either directly or from the pressure resulted from inflammation. The nerves are very delicate and are reactive to the slightest changes in pressure. Since the nerve roots area are surrounded by boney canals, there is not much room for error.
This slippage of the disc will commonly cause neck pain or back pain depending on where the injury occurred in the body, and in a lot of cases the pain can be quite severe.
Not to mention the chances of pinching a nerve that can cause a shocking or searing pain into your arms and hands. Or if it’s a low back injury it could cause sciatica (low back pain that causes nerve pain down your leg).
In humans there are certain signs and symptoms that will make it easier for your chiropractor to diagnose. Before an examination you should make notes describing exactly what pain you are feeling and any limitations that you have, and during the exam cooperate during physical tests to determine the root cause..
With dogs and horses this can be harder to diagnose. A lot of time this can present as lameness, a weak leg or complete dragging of the hind end.
Chiropractic can be of great help but the healing process can be quite slow as nerve tissue healing depends on the amount of compression and the length of time it was compressed.
In humans, dogs, or horses, if there is pain or weakness and both legs as well as incontinence, this should be treated as a medical emergency and you should go to a hospital.