Herniated disc

Herniated disc and its electromagnetic component

Most people understand that a herniated disc is a spine problem in which part of the disc between vertebrae moves outward, pressing a nerve and causing pain and other symptoms. However, only a few people have heard of the electromagnetic component of a herniated disc. As it’s a new concept, this is normal and can be explained with an analogy so that it does not sound strange.

If we analyze the human body, we will see that it has electrical systems for its operation that, at the same time, produce tiny magnetic fields, as is the case of the heart, brain, muscles, and nerves. These electrical systems can be altered and produce health problems that are well-known to professionals and patients around the world. In recent decades diagnostic methods and treatments have been developed according to their etiology. For example, the electrocardiogram (ECG) records the electrical activity of the heart, and the electroencephalogram (EEG) records the brain’s electrical activity. Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies are tests that measure electrical activity in muscles and nerves, as nerves send electrical signals so muscles react in a specific way. As far as treatments are concerned, cardioversion is a medical procedure in which rapid, low-energy shocks are used to restore a normal heart rhythm; transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) stimulates certain functions in the brain; For the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, there are also many electrical and magnetic modalities performed by professionals such as physical therapists.

Herniated discs are a health problem that also presents an electromagnetic component, due to the dysfunction of its associated electrical structures. After 20 years of experience, I have researched, documented, and effectively treated this problem. This website lets you learn first-hand what it is and how it should be treated.

Herniated disc: Diagnosis

A herniated disc is a well-documented health problem that is relatively easy to diagnose through an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the affected spinal area. An MRI will also help detect other spinal problems such as disc protrusions, disc diseases, further degenerative changes or other findings sometimes present with the herniated disc.

A physical and neurological examination (reflexes, muscle strength, sensitivity, posture), neurological tests (nerve conduction study, electromyography), the patient’s medical history (VAS visual analogue scale) and other imaging tests can be added to the MRI, such as computed tomography (CT scan) that will undoubtedly provide more information.

The most practical way to detect the electromagnetic component of a herniated disc is through your journey as a patient. In other words, if you have visited all kinds of specialists and performed all kinds of tests like the ones mentioned and treatments without results, you will most likely suffer from the electromagnetic component of the herniated disc. It’s as simple as that.

The most complex way to detect a herniated disc’s electromagnetic component is through the “manual ankle rigidity test,” which is similarly used to assess for spasticity. This test allowed me to know the herniated disc’s electromagnetic component and develop the protocol, the káyros device, and its accessories to treat it. A more accurate and objective diagnostic device could be designed with suitable investment and means. However, it is currently impossible for me to set it with the available resources.

Herniated disc: Causes

Disc herniation and its electromagnetic component can be caused by several factors that may also end up causing dysfunction of its associated electrical structures: the normal aging of the population, which naturally produces wear and tear and degeneration of the disc over time, which may lead to the formation of disc herniation and other spinal problems. In people of all ages and genders, loss of normal body posture and spinal imbalances stress joints and create stiff muscles. In addition, this problem can also arise from carrying weight in bad postures, doing repetitive physical work, motor vehicle accidents, injuries of all kinds, genetics, etc. Lack of exercise, loss of muscle mass, obesity, diet, psychological state, smoking, drinking alcohol, etc., should not be confused as causes since these factors can worsen but not cause the herniated disc.

Other causes of disc herniation and its electromagnetic component may be associated with magnetic and electric fields from antennas, mobile phones, etc., that interact with our body daily, but I cannot guarantee this.

Herniated disc: symptoms

Patients can have a herniated disc and other spinal problems without knowing it or experiencing pain or other symptoms until one day, suddenly or gradually, the symptoms appear. At that time, they may not give it the importance that living with a herniated disc requires. Or maybe yes, and they will begin to learn to live with a chronic health problem. And this is precisely what I recommend based on my protocol and treatment.

There are patients whose hernias are large on MRI but hardly suffer from symptoms, while others have very small hernias and have excruciating symptoms. Even patients without a herniated disc suffer from symptoms similar to those of a herniated disc. Sometimes other problems may exist than the hernia, which should be treated differently.

Herniated disc symptoms can be mild or very painful and disabling. I have known patients who could not get out of bed or breathe well for weeks and months due to the hernia, even taking powerful medication. If the pain occurs progressively, it is necessary to avoid reaching these situations. If the pain starts suddenly, it will be unavoidable.

The areas of the spine where herniated discs usually occur are the lumbar (L4-L5-S1) and cervical spine (C5-C6-C7), although they can be found in other segments and in the dorsal area of the spine. There are several types (medial, posterolateral, foraminal, extraforaminal, protruded, extruded…), and other spinal problems, such as disc disease, disc fissure, retrolisthesis, scoliosis, osteophytes, etc, can accompany them.

The most common symptoms of a herniated disc are pain (known as “discogenic” pain), paresthesias (numbness or tingling), and/or muscle weakness, which radiates to the part of the body to which the affected nerves connect. Usually, these symptoms represent 90% of the herniated discs that can be improved and resolved with my treatment. Other symptoms are more worrisome due to factors such as having waited too long to treat the hernia, some types of stenosis, or cauda equina syndrome and myelopathy, which will require surgery or other treatments. In my experience, these causes account for 10% of herniated discs.

Cervical disc herniation

Cervical disc herniation normally affects the C5-C6-C7 vertebral levels of the cervical spine and can produce various symptoms. The pain can be felt in the center of the neck, from the nape to the head, or from the lower neck to the back, shoulder blades, and arms and hands. The pain can be mild or severe, constant or intermittent, depending on the positions and activities carried out, and each patient can experience it differently. Patients may feel that the neck does not support their head, that their head is tilted to one side, stiff neck, that their neck cracks when moving, or that it is difficult for them to raise their arms and/or hands or do tasks with them; They are very stiff in the cervical area, have muscle contractures, have lost mobility in the neck, etc. The pain can be accompanied by headaches, dizziness, unsteadiness, blurred vision, jaw pain, facial pain, sweating, and all kinds of disabling symptoms that also affect the emotional and psychological state of the patient.

The characteristic lesion of cervical disc herniation is radiculopathy or “pinched nerve”. It consists of pain, paresthesias (sensation of pins and needles, numbness, cold or heat, swelling and clumsiness, tingling…) and/or muscle weakness in one arm or both. It will affect certain parts depending on which cervical level the herniated disc is located. For example, at the C4-C5 level, the deltoid muscle may be affected more, which will cause pain in the shoulder and make it difficult to raise the arm. At the C5-C6 level, the biceps muscles and wrist extensors will be more affected, and sensations will be felt in the thumb of the hand.

Although sometimes overlooked, changes in the normal structure of the cervical spine (lordosis), such as cervical hyperlordosis or a straight neck, can worsen the problem.

Dorsal or thoracic disc herniation

Dorsal or thoracic disc herniation is less common than cervical and lumbar, although it can also cause worrying symptoms. The pain can range from the area below the neck to the upper lumbar and can be felt in the center of the back, on one side, or both. The pain may be occasional or constant, due to forward-bending postures and activities that load the muscles in the middle of the spine, leading to chronic pain, feelings of tiredness, heaviness or the sensation of having something stuck in that area of the back. This pain can be relieved by lying on your back in bed and resting in that position for a while. The cause of dorsal disc herniation can be falls on the back. Radiculopathies can also occur towards the front of the trunk and extremities (pectoral, abdomen, genital) and muscle (sphincter) or organ (bladder) dysfunction. Osteophytes, Schmorl’s nodules or hernias, and Modic endplate changes can accompany thoracic disc herniation.

Lumbar disc herniation

Lumbar disc herniation is most common in the spine and symptoms are similar to other hernias, except that it affects the lower back and legs.

Lumbar disc herniation commonly affects the L4-L5-S1 vertebral levels of the lumbar spine and can produce a wide variety of symptoms. The pain (low back pain or lumbalgia/lumbago) can be felt in the center of the lower back, on the sides, forward like a belt, towards the dorsal area or towards the legs when there is radiation. The pain can be mild or very severe, constant or intermittent, depending on the positions and activities that are carried out, and each patient can experience it differently. In more advanced stages, patients cannot walk, get up or lead a normal life, also affecting their emotional and psychological state.

The characteristic lesion of lumbar disc herniation is radiculopathy or “pinched nerve”, which causes the sciatica symptoms. It is defined as pain, paresthesia (sensation of pins and needles, numbness, cold or heat, swelling and clumsiness, tingling…) and/or muscle weakness in one or both legs. Sciatica usually begins to be felt below the lower back, in the buttock, and over time it can work its way down to the knee and end up in the foot. It can run down the back of the leg, lateral (hip), medial (groin), or anterior (thigh). The distribution of pain and other sensations may vary depending on the area innervated by each nerve root affected by the lumbar disc herniation. When the sciatica ends up affecting both legs and radiating to both feet, impingement is more of a concern. Getting to that point should be avoided with the correct treatment.

Other spinal problems

On your MRI, you will see a list of names and levels. For example, in the lumbar MRI, you will see letters and numbers like L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1, or in the cervical C4-C5, C5-C6 or C6-C7. These are the vertebrae (and the disc between vertebrae) of the spinal column that are affected by a problem. There are 7 cervical (letter “C”) and 5 lumbar (letter “L”), hence the numbers. The letter “D” or “T” refers to the dorsal or thoracic vertebrae. You may also see some names like “disc herniation”, “disc protrusion”, “discopathy”, “osteophytes”, “disc fissure”, “bulging”, “retrolisthesis”, “osteoarthritis”, “loss of cervical lordosis”, etc.

Although I focus on the problem of “herniated disc” here, you may also suffer from another series of the issues listed in your MRI. Or you may not specifically suffer from a “herniated disc”, but you do have a “protruded disc” and/or another problem. All these ailments can also produce similar or different symptoms to those of a herniated disc. They can also be treated with my services (aiming to alleviate the symptoms to live a more decent life, since they cannot be cured or eliminated entirely). For example, if you have “protruded discs” but do not have “herniated discs”, you can still benefit from my treatment. And the same goes for the other problems that I will try to explain in a simple way below:

Disc protrusion: may be the step prior to disc herniation or slipped disc. It is a deformation or bulging of the structure of the intervertebral disc without going further. Remember that with a herniated disc, the disc’s structure breaks and the nucleus’s content leaves its normal zone. In some cases, the bulge can become as painful as a herniated disc.

Distended disc: would be the phase prior to disc protrusion.

Degenerative disc disease is a wear of the intervertebral disc that decreases its normal height and can cause disc impingement, resulting in severe symptoms and disc herniation. It is classified into different grades.

Osteophytes: also known as “bone spurs” or “bone growths”, they are very small triangular formations of bone created in the degenerative disease, or osteoarthritis, of the spine (spondylosis deformans). They usually extend between the bodies of the vertebrae. They don’t usually cause problems, but depending on where they are and the symptoms they cause, may require surgery.

Osteoarthritis: osteoarthritis of the cervical or lumbar spine (or “spondyloarthrosis”) is a degenerative disease of the cartilage of the intervertebral discs (located between the vertebrae). These lose elasticity and stop cushioning normal impacts on the body.

Rupture and fissure of the disc: it consists of the rupture of the fibers that form the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc. The crack is a small tear. The break can end up causing severe pain.

Spondylolisthesis: the backward (retrolisthesis) or forward displacement (anterolisthesis) of a vertebra concerning the underlying one without being a luxation or dislocation. If it is displaced too much (grade 5 is the maximum), the bone can entrap the marrow or nerves, causing canal stenosis and requiring surgery.

Stenosis or narrow canal: it is a narrowing of the space through which the spinal cord (canal) and the nerve roots of the spine pass, which causes compression of the nerves and symptoms (such as difficulty walking, radiculopathies, etc.) that may require surgery. It can be caused by hernias, protrusions, osteophytes and other spinal deformities.

Scoliosis is a “C” or “S” shaped deviation of the spine seen on a frontal x-ray. Scoliosis can put a strain on the joints, worsening any spinal problem such as a herniated or bulging disc.

Loss or rectification of the normal cervical or lumbar lordosis: loss of the normal curvature of the cervical or lumbar spine (becomes straight), which can overload the joints, worsening any spinal problem such as herniation or disc protrusion.

Increase or accentuation of normal lordosis or kyphosis: increase in the normal curvature of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine, which can overload the joints, worsening any spinal problem such as herniation or disc protrusion.

Inversion or kyphosis of the normal lordosis: loss of the normal curvature of the cervical spine, resulting mainly in an opposite or inverted or forward shape (military neck), which tends to overload the joints, worsening any spinal problem such as herniation or disc protrusion.

L5 sacralization: an anomaly in which the L5 vertebra remains fixed to the sacrum, forming part of it. It doesn’t usually cause problems.

Lumbarization of S1: abnormality in which the upper part of the sacrum has not fused and forms an extra lumbar vertebra. It doesn’t usually cause problems.

Schmorl’s nodule: it is a variety of disc herniation or protrusion (also called intraspongeous disc herniation) formed by degenerative processes or trauma. It is not usually serious but can cause pain and poor posture.

Post-surgical changes: changes in the spine after surgery, such as a laminectomy.

Disc dehydration: degradation of the intervertebral discs by which they become more rigid and less flexible, causing symptoms such as pain and/or decreased normal mobility.

Spondylosis: a term that describes in a general way any degeneration or wear of the spine. The effects of this wear can cause herniated discs, stiffness, pain, etc.

Spondylitis: a rheumatic disease that affects the spine causing stiffness, pain, etc.