here are 24 movable bones of the spine. In between these bones resides a disc. A vertebral disc is the shock-absorbing structure found between the bones. The disc has an outer layer (Annulus Fibrosus) that surrounds the soft gel-like center (Nucleus Pulposus). These discs act as cushions between vertebrae. They help your back stay flexible, so you can bend and twist. The spinal canal, containing the spinal nerves, lies directly behind the disc and vertebral bodies.

Herniated discs (often called ‘slipped’ discs) occur when the cartilage tissue resting between bones in the spine starts to apply pressure on a nerve. While they are a common ailment that can occur at any stage of life, they tend to occur more frequently among people in their middle and later years. In a small proportion of instances, a severely herniated disc can cause months of considerable discomfort. Yet most of the time the pain can be quite easily managed through a combination of remedial exercise and when appropriate, medicine. It is common for people to not even notice that they have a slipped disc and simply be diagnosed with it after going into a medical office for other reasons.