Problem
Problems can occur suddenly after an accident or injury, or may occur as the result of a slow, gradual process due to lack of exercise or poor posture. Problems can occur in different areas of the spine, but the most frequent is the lower back.
Massage
The way exercises help in case of disc problems is by a) straightening the surrounding (supporting) muscles, b) stretching the surrounding tissues, which reduces the probability of spasms and c) increasing the nutrition flow due to self-massage. Massage, when done properly, is very good for the back, as it is increasing the flow of nutrition to the discs and to some extent stretching the muscles.
Nerve
The pain caused by pinched nerve in the back may irradiate into hands, legs, and other parts of our body. It can be pulled muscle, pinched nerve, joint damage or some other reason. Sometimes the hand, head or even face may hurt, as the nerves that are pinched are going to these areas. There are nerves that go from the spinal cord to internal organs, and sometimes they can get pinched. If the disk has cracks, its inner, semi-liquid core can be squeezed outside, press against the spinal cord or nerves that go from the spinal cord, and create all sorts of problems, from cold hands to, in some cases, death. Impingement of bone or disk material on a cervical nerve root can cause neck pain which radiates into the arm, weakness of arm and shoulder muscles, and numbness.
Classes
Yoga is increasingly being used as a form of Breast Cancer Therapy, and there are a growing number of instructors and yoga classes specifically dedicated to breast cancer survivors.
Nutrition
By increasing flow of nutrition to the disc due to the exercises, we can change its chemistry. The idea is to develop muscles that will serve as a support, and to stop the disc degradation by restoring the nutrition flow. We can only restore the flow of nutrition it is receiving (by massage and exercises) and to stabilize the process. Same thing happens if those muscles are weak, undeveloped, and are not moving enough (moving the tissues is another way to bring nutrition to the disk, that's why massage is so useful in some cases of back problems). By restoring the flow of nutrition, we might be able to increase the hydration of the disk.
Conclusion
Almost everyone has suffered from neck or back pain. Neck or back pain affects between 60 and 85% of people. Probably you are one of those people. In one study, researchers reported that 21 % of patients experienced back pain in the fourteen days preceding the study. Another study reported that at least 5% of all patient visits to the doctor or health professional are due to back pain.
Most ordinary neck and back pain is caused by excessive tension experienced in the muscles associated with the spine. This tension
results from a variety of causes, from structural imbalances to various aspects of life style. These sorts of causes can be identified and treated.
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher, dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.
