Lisa: My grandma always complains of her back pain and says it’s her building disk. What does that mean?

Megan: Some people call this condition a bulging disk and some call it a herniated disk. They mean the same. This happens when the disk (spongy part). in the spine pushes out through a tear in the outer disk (rubbery part). The disk presses on the spinal cord and nerve and that’s what causes the pain. The disks support the spin and keep bones from rubbing against each other. The outer layer of the disks is tough, but there is gel in the middle. The gel can get rigid over time and with age. The amount of gel can be less and less with age and it eventually pushes out. That’s when it touches the nerves and that’s when the pain is felt. Your grandma is feeling that nerve being touched. 

If you have a question for Dr. FIT, email her at everybodysfit@gmail.com and be sure to check out her website: Every BODY’s Fit