Effects of Dehydration and Diagnosing Spinal Disc Related Issues

The human spine depends upon hydration for its proper function and health. There are discs present within your spine and water is a major part of their composition. The spinal disc can’t absorb water from the body, thus follow the imbibition phenomenon, to absorb the water and other essential nutrients for their proper functions.

The proper movement of joints causes the nutrients to flow in and out of the disc. Thus, the proper availability of water is necessary for these nutrients to move in the spinal disc.

Although your spine, to an extent, can replenish the required water, you must keep your body adequately hydrated. Consequently, your spine can be affected and many uncomfortable reactions can occur within your spine.

• Immobility

Your spinal discs are responsible for the normal movement of vertebral joints by acting as a cushion against bone on bone adherence. When your body is dehydrated, these discs eventually thin out and can hinder mobility causing accelerated degeneration of the spine.

• Bulging

Spinal dehydration can also cause a condition known as disc bulging, disc protrusion, and disc extrusion. The main cause of disc bulging are due to compression forces on the discs eventually leading to dehydration and weakness of the supporting fibers. The dehydrated discs have no proper elasticity so a force exerted on these discs causes bulging of the discs. To prevent continuous bulging, re-hydration of the spine is very essential.

• Back pain

People who have herniated discs suffer from neck and back pain. When the deterioration starts, the indirect force exerted on the nerve within the vertebrae causes the start of neck and back pain. The chemical or mechanical stimulation of the outer spinal discs is the main cause of discomfort in the spine.

• Symptoms of dehydrated spinal discs

• The water level in your body is directly related to your spinal health. So if your body is dehydrated, then you will start to show signs and symptoms of a degenerative disc, leading to radicular symptoms at the spinal root.

• Shooting pain in your arms, hands, fingers, legs, knees, and toes.

• Bulging acne or spots on the spinal surface

• Numbness and Tingling

• Fatigue of leg and arm muscles

• Loss of reflexes

• Pelvic organ problems

• • Diagnosis and Management

• Chiropractors are trained in diagnosing disc-related issues. A thorough examination is performed including a subjective history from the patient, an objective history performed by the treating doctor, and the use of X-ray and MRI imaging. This allows the Chiropractor to make an educated assessment of the problem and create a treatment plan that best serves you. If you have any questions in regards to your disc health, Chiropractic can help!

• Management usually is determined by the severity of the disc problem. Below are various treatments listed from most conservative to least.

  • Proper food nutrition and hydration

  • Chiropractic Adjustments

  • Pain Medications (Usually covers the symptoms and not necessarily the cause)

  • Strengthening and Stretching Exercises (Under direction of a professional)

  • Pain Injections

  • Surgery