Discopathy

A discopathy is a disorder of the intervertebral disc. Literally translated it means 'disease' (pathy) of the 'intervertebral disc.' As a result of wear and tear, small tears occur in the fibers of the intervertebral disc, which causes pain. With a large tear, the content of the disc can bulge outward. In that case, there is a herniated disc.

What is an intervertebral disc?

As the name suggests, intervertebral discs lie between the vertebrae. They provide shock absorption during movement and prevent vertebrae from touching each other.

An intervertebral disc is made up of two parts: an outer rim and a soft core. The outer rim, a cartilaginous layer also called the annulus fibrosus, ensures that forces are distributed evenly over the entire disc. 

Additionally, the outer rim is important for keeping the soft core contained. The soft core is the nucleus pulposus. It consists of a gel-like mass and is important as a shock absorber during activities such as walking.

What causes an abnormality of the intervertebral disc?

A discopathy is almost always the result of aging. This process of degeneration causes the outer rim to become less elastic and sometimes even to tear. A sign of aging of the soft core is that it dries out. A tear in the outer rim can lead to a herniated (protruding) disc. In this situation, the soft core exits the disc and then hardens.

A discopathy itself can be asymptomatic, meaning 'without symptoms.' If pain is present, it is the result of nerve irritation that arises from compression (pressure) of the disc on nearby nerve roots.

What are the symptoms of a discopathy?

Recognizable symptoms include sharp localized pain and a possible worsening of pain with flexion and/or extension movements of the spine. Static loading such as prolonged sitting and standing, or dynamic loading such as walking, can also provoke the symptoms.

Stiffness and a feeling of instability in the back are common with a discopathy. In the case of a herniated disc, specific symptoms such as radiating pain, tingling, and muscle weakness may also be experienced.

How is the diagnosis 'discopathy' made?

Often, the patient's history and the physical examination already indicate that there is a problem with the intervertebral disc. Additional testing is therefore not always necessary. Are the symptoms severe or not improving? Then imaging may be needed. This is usually done with an X-ray. This shows the distance between the vertebrae well. If the distance has decreased, something is going on with the intervertebral discs. 

If doubt remains, or there is suspicion of more serious problems, an additional MRI scan can be performed.

What does the treatment of a discopathy look like?

For a discopathy, a conservative treatment approach is preferred. This comes down to dosing load and physical therapy. The physical therapist can provide guidance and advice on posture and movements, prescribe exercises to train mobility and muscle strength, or perform treatments that relieve pain. In exercise therapy, particular attention is paid to building strength in specific core muscles.

When conservative treatment yields insufficient results, or if symptoms worsen, a surgical procedure can be considered. In the case of a herniated disc, this is performed by means of a hernia operation.