Backs

A prolapsed disc as you can see from the diagram below is really pressure on a spinal nerve by thick gelatinous material coming from the centre of a spinal disc.

Most back problems are not due to prolapsed discs. Xrays seldom give useful information.

Here's a place to start - orthodox and complementary information - to find out about back pain, its causes and treatments. This site is a trust with HRH Prince of Wales as top dude. It's fairly dry and evidence based. Not much barrow pushing here.

Conditions
401 - Degenerative Spinal Disease
402 - Spondylosis and Osteoarthritis
403 - Sciatica and Referred Pain
404 - Pain in Cervical Spine
405 - Facet Joint Pain
406 - Thoracic Spine Pain
407 - Coccydinia
408 - Spinal Stenosis
409 - Whiplash Complementary Therapies
601 - Alexander Technique
602 - Osteopathy
603 - Chiropractic
604 - Difference between Osteopathy and Chiropractic