Between each of the 24 small bones, or vertebrae, which form the spine are shock-absorbing discs called intervertebral discs that cushion the bones and allow the spine to bend.

Because of the role they play in cushioning the spine, pain from damage or infection in them is often immediate and profound. They are susceptible to three main types of problem:

• burst disc, causing sciatica and leg pain
• prolapse disc, often called a slipped disc, and
• degenerative disc wear of the cartilage itself

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