Healthy Intervertebral Discs

Healthy Intervertebral Discs

Is your sleep already being disrupted by pain at night or in the morning? Then it might be due to your intervertebral discs.

The Problem

Many back problems are caused by the intervertebral discs. The intervertebral disc is a flexible, fibrous-cartilaginous connection between the individual vertebrae. It consists of an outer fibrous ring and an inner gel-like nucleus. The entire structure is enclosed by an outer membrane that has the ability to transport moisture. During the day and under stress, moisture is squeezed out of the disc; at night, when the body is relaxed, it reabsorbs moisture from the surrounding environment.

If we are unable to sleep in a relaxed state at night, the pressure on the intervertebral discs is too great, and moisture absorption does not occur or is insufficient.

The result is atrophied, dehydrated intervertebral discs. These are not only responsible for a wide variety of muscle tension but are also often the cause of many herniated discs.

Relaxed sleep is therefore one of the most important prerequisites for healthy intervertebral discs and fewer back problems. If you wake up in the morning feeling tense or with neck and back pain, it is important that you ensure you are lying in a more relaxed position to prevent future damage.

Tips:

• Balanced, back-friendly movement and stress on the spine are essential for healthy intervertebral discs.
• Since we move very little at night, it is all the more important that your sleeping position is relaxed. This means that when lying on your side, your spine should align the same way it does when standing. Your shoulders and pelvis should be able to sink sufficiently into the bed, and your lower back/waist should be supported.
• Because if your spine isn’t properly aligned in the side position, we put heavy strain on certain parts of the intervertebral disc throughout the night, preventing it from receiving sufficient fluid.
• Just as you buy shoes that fit, your bed must also fit your body.
• People with disc problems should absolutely avoid sleeping on their back or stomach. In these positions, the muscles are stretched and tension can be very high.