Chiropractor explains Herniated Discs and other Disc Injuries
What are disc injuries?
Disc injuries or slipped discs occur when the rubbery discs between the spinal bones become herniated or bulge out between the vertebrae. If a disc tears, it releases irritating substances, which then affect and cause the area to swell. Disc tears are especially painful when the fluids touch the nerve. Poor disc health can be related to many things such as poor posture, smoking, lack of exercise, and inadequate nutrition. Mild Slipped Disc cases may be treated by simple stretching and therapy through exercise. Advanced cases may require stretches and exercise, and added mechanical or traction decompression. In rare cases, the slipped disc may be severe enough for surgery, but this should be considered a last resort.
At Barham Chiropractic, we treat patients with severe Herniated Discs every single day.
Our hope is that we get patients back to their normal lives, pain-free WITHOUT surgery.
What are the symptoms of a Disc Injury?
Most herniated disks occur in the lower back, but they can also occur in the neck. Signs and symptoms depend on where the disk is situated and whether the disk is pressing on a nerve. Herniated disks usually affect one side of the body.
Arm or leg pain. If your herniated disk is in your lower back, besides pain in your lower back, you'll typically feel pain in your buttocks, thigh, and calf. You might have pain in part of the foot as well.
For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm. This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning.
Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.
Weakness. Muscles served by the affected nerves tend to weaken. This can cause you to stumble, or affect your ability to lift or hold items.
You can have a herniated disk without symptoms. You might not know you have it unless it shows up on a X ray.
Can Chiropractors Fix Herniated Discs?
At our Sacramento Chiropractic Office, we have decompression tables and other equipment that we can use to ensure that pressure is relieved from your discs. We also have the proper equipment to assess and diagnose this type of injury and create an individualized plan to best help the body recover.
If you are suffering from a disc injury, or what you believe may be a disc injury, we would love to see how we can help you.
Check out our New Patient Offer or give us a call to find out if our Sacramento Chiropractic Office can help you.
Clinically reviewed by Steven Barham, D.C.
— Updated on November 30, 2022
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