Discopathy - herniated disc and Atlas

Anatomy of an unavoidable herniated disc: if your pelvis is tilted or if you suffer from scoliosis, the vertebrae do not distribute their weight over the entire surface of the disc, but only over part of it. The situation is further aggravated if you have other spinal abnormalities.

The consequences are easy to imagine: over time, the spot on the intervertebral disc where most of the weight is continuously placed deteriorates, creating the conditions for an impending disc protrusion or herniation.

Persistent excessive muscle tension due to poor posture grips the vertebrae like a vice; the freedom of movement of the interposed intervertebral disc is severely limited. As the constant pressure on the disc increases, the spine becomes increasingly rigid and less flexible.

To remain effective and intact, the intervertebral discs exchange nutrients and waste products with the external tissue, thanks to the pressure changes that occur during disc compression and decompression, when the vertebrae move. Disc nutrition works according to this principle because the intervertebral discs cannot be vascularised like other tissues, for the simple reason that intradiscal pressure is much higher than blood pressure.

The load on the intervertebral discs also varies depending on the body position. Between standing and lying down, contrary to what one might imagine, the load on the discs is reduced by only 20%. In the unfavourable condition described above, the already low 20 per cent is reduced even further, compromising the important regeneration phase of the intervertebral discs that takes place during sleep in a horizontal position. Over the years, the intervertebral discs "dry out" and lose their elasticity, so that the disc may tear as soon as it is subjected to a certain load.

It is possible to surgically remove the portion of the ruptured disc. The escaped pulp puts pressure on the nerve roots emerging from the spine, causing pain and paraesthesia in the limbs. Nowadays, alternative solutions are preferred because such operations are not risk-free, can lead to complications and induce chronic pain, as observed in many people.

This solution certainly does not eliminate the main cause of bad posture, so the situation can degenerate into new herniated discs later on. Why not solve the problem at its root? And by root I don't mean the nerve root compressed by the herniation.

If no other interfering factors are present, repositioning the Atlas allows the pelvis to be levelled and the posture to be corrected. The resulting improved distribution of the loads on the intervertebral discs and the reduction in muscle contractures considerably promote the spontaneous process of hernia resolution and reduce the risk of subsequent herniations.

Atlas correction is indicated above all for the prevention of herniated discs and in the case of disc protrusion.
Atlantomed aims to eliminate the cause which then degenerates into the pathology, rather than targeting the disorder itself. Therefore, in the case of herniated discs in an advanced stage, it may be necessary to intervene with further therapies.

We strongly recommend that you also inform yourself about the non-invasive SPINEMED treatment.

Remember: To repair a punctured tyre, you must first plug the hole and then reinflate the wheel. Reversing the order or performing only one of the two operations inevitably leads to failure.