There are many common car accident injuries, but if you’re diagnosed with a herniated or bulging disc, it doesn’t help to know you are around good company. You only get one thing that comes to your mind: What do you do to get the pain to stop?
And if you’ve ever experienced or know about the relief of a spinal adjustment, you might even ask yourself, “Can a chiropractor fix my herniated disc?”
Chiropractors are experts in the spine and other joint adjustments, so it’s obvious that they understand how to treat a disc protrusion or herniated disc. Read on to learn what exactly a herniated disc is, its causes, common symptoms, and how herniated disc chiropractic can help.
What Are The Symptoms of Disc Protrusion or Herniation
- Sharp or dull discomfort in the affected area, ranging from mild to severe.
- Loss of sensation or tingling sensation in the region supplied by the affected nerve.
- Reduced strength or control in muscles served by the affected nerve leads to difficulty in movement or coordination.
- Tingling or “pins and needles” sensation: Unpleasant prickling or tingling in the affected area.
- Pain that spreads from the site of the herniated disc to other parts of the body, such as the arms or legs, due to nerve compression.
- Involuntary muscle contractions or tightness often accompany pain and contribute to restricted movement.
What Causes a Disc Protrusion?
Bulging discs happen when parts of the spine press into nearby nerves. They usually occur because of age or injury. Your disks may thin out and wear down as you age, making them more likely to bulge. This can be sped up by things like bad posture, overexertion, or being overweight. In a study, researchers found that many younger people around 25 had bulging disks. Most of them smoked, were overweight, and didn’t move around much.
A sudden strong force, like in a car crash, can also cause or worsen a bulging disk. Sometimes, it’s hard to know exactly what caused the problem.
Understanding how bulging discs happen reminds us to care for our bodies by staying active, keeping healthy, and avoiding risky behaviors like smoking. If you have back pain or other symptoms, seeing a doctor for help is important.
Chiropractic Treatment Can Help
No matter how your disc was injured, you will have one concern: feeling better. But who do you consult? Your general health care practitioner? A back specialist? Or an Osteopath? However, there is a common belief that herniated disc chiropractic care will make your disc protrusion worse. Trust us; nothing could be further from the truth!
Your doctor may recommend the following ways to treat disc injuries
- Bed rest
- Pain relievers
- Steroid injections
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Spinal manipulation
On your first visit to herniated disc chiropractic clinic, you’ll undergo an X-ray examination to rule out other potential conditions. Following this, our team will devise a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs, likely incorporating manual adjustments and flexion-distraction therapy.
Flexion-distraction is a gentle technique utilizing a specialized table to stretch your spinal discs gently, alleviating pressure from your vertebrae. This process encourages your discs to absorb more water, aiding in their restoration. Your chiropractor may recommend increasing your water intake post-treatment to support this rejuvenation process.
Depending on the severity of your condition, you may also benefit from medical massage therapy as part of your treatment regimen. While chiropractic care cannot reverse a herniated disc (surgery being the sole option), it can effectively alleviate your discomfort, potentially rendering surgery, medications, and other interventions unnecessary.
The bottom line
Whether you have a disc protrusion or a herniated disc, you must consider seeing an experienced chiropractor. Chiropractors specialize in noninvasive, drug-free treatment that identifies the root of your pain and discomfort without masking the symptoms. Through the combined efforts of spinal adjustments, flexion distraction, and massage therapy, you can experience pain relief. It will be not just at the source of the disc protrusion but throughout your body.
Herniated disc chiropractic is holistic in nature, which means it treats the entire body rather than a collection of systems. By visiting a chiropractor, you can address pain that may have been bothering you for years. Schedule an appointment today at Tropea Chiropractic Inc. and come feel the difference for yourself!