Resorption

Resorption is a natural response from the human body in the event of a herniated disc. When the body recognizes that the gel-like inner material of a disc has seeped through a tear in the outer disc wall, the immune system releases white blood cells to break down and absorb the nucleus pulposus material that has extruded through the opening. This allows the opening in the outer disc wall to then close and heal on its own.

Why Does it Happen?

The first step that brings about the process of resorption is for a disc to become herniated in the first place. These soft, cushioning bodies located between each level of vertebrae in the spine act as shock absorbers. Over time, they lose water content and can become thin and brittle. Sometimes, this deterioration of a disc can result in the inner disc material pushing through an opening in the outer disc wall. By itself, this disc herniation is not symptomatic. However, when this material places pressure on a nearby nerve, pain and other symptoms can arise.

Additional Help

While resorption may take place and heal a disc herniation in your spine, there are some steps doctors often recommend to help aid this process. By keeping your immune system in top shape through a doctor-approved program of diet, exercise, and medication, you can help keep your body in optimal condition during the resorption process.

Other conservative treatments to help ease the symptoms associated with a herniated disc can include physical therapy, hot/cold therapy, massage, chiropractics, and more. However, if natural disc resorption or conservative treatments have failed to bring relief from your herniated disc symptoms, contact Laser Spine Institute today to learn more about our revolutionary endoscopic procedures that have helped tens of thousands of patients rediscover their lives without back and neck pain.