Although the expression ‘slipped disc’ is often used it’s an inaccurate description. The inter-vertebral discs cannot slip, as they are firmly bonded to the surface of the vertebral bodies. However, with incorrect use over time, or as the result of an accident, a compressive force may cause the gel-like centre of the disc to protrude through the fibrous outer cartilage.
The resultant bulge, called a prolapsed or herniated disc, may induce pressure on the spinal nerves. The effects may range from pain to loss of sensation to nerve function disorder, leading to muscle weakness and loss of tendon reflexes in the back area or referring into legs and feet.
Simon, an engineer aged thirty-five, had pain radiating from his lower back into his groin, and the pain in his right leg was so severe that at times he could not stand on it. He had been forced to give up his sports, running and golf. An MRI scan showed a prolapsed disc in his lumbar spine, and the specialist advised disc surgery.
Simon was strongly opposed to having an operation, and decided to try BSR. His buttock, thigh and calf muscles were extremely tense, as well as his diaphragm, and his back was very sensitive to touch. After the first session, he felt some hope, as the pain started to come and go, and he was aware of tingling in both feet.
But he felt worse after the second, with the sensation of electric currents running up and down his right leg. The practitioner assured him that this was a positive sign, as nerve communication was restoring in the process of unlocking the muscular stress. A few sessions later (with a number of “ups and downs” as the nerve pathways started to optimise) he was completely pain-free.
His lower-back muscles still felt tight, and he was given an exercise to strengthen his abdominal muscles. Soon he was able to play golf again and began to understand importance of regular BSR for health maintenance so he kept on seeing his practitioner every 6 weeks.
Four years later Simon had another MRI scan, and the surgeon was astonished to see no sign of disc prolapse!
This case study demonstrates that, if the stored tension around a prolapsed disc is released, the compression on the disc space is relieved. In many cases this allows the pressure on the jelly-like core to be redistributed towards normal thereby allowing the bulge of the cartilage to reduce.
20-Jun-2015