Chiropractic Care for Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is a common enough injury that you may have heard the term, but there are still a lot of questions surrounding it. Can a chiropractor help with the symptoms? What kind of treatments options are there for herniated discs? Why do they happen?

Let's dive into the answers you need to better understand what a herniated disc is and how chiropractors can help.

What a Herniated Disc Is

Don't worry, this is a lot simpler than the term "herniated disc" makes it sound. The spinal column is made up of 33 vertebrae. These are small bones stacked up, creating the backbone, with the spinal cord traveling through them all.

In between the vertebrae are discs.

The discs work as shock absorbers. They keep the vertebrae in check. There are 23 discs in the spine. There are six of them in the neck, twelve in the main portion of the back, and then five in the lower back, known as the lumbar region.

These discs have gel-like centers. That material helps them do their job as shock absorbers.

Sometimes, this gel-like center may become uneven, by being squished to one side, or may even rupture. This is sometimes referred to as a herniated disc, bulging disc, or ruptured disc.

This can happen when the disc is injured during a trauma. It can happen from repetitive stress on the spinal column. It can also happen as a part of the aging process.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

One of the most common symptoms of a bulging disc is pain. This pain may not show up how you expect it, though. A herniated disc may hurt directly in the spine or the pain could show up elsewhere.

It may hurt in your legs, neck, or your back. The pain may be gradual but can often come on suddenly. Sometimes a disc will have been bulging for a while but a harsh cough can cause the disc to finally move enough to cause a sudden sharp pain that does not go away.

Sciatica may be caused by a herniated disc. This may be pain in the lower back, or down the back of one or both of the legs. This is because the disc has compressed the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, and it is causing pain along the nerve.

Numbness, weakness, or tingling in the legs can occur. This can also show up as a symptom in the arms. Again, this is because the disc has compressed a nerve. When a nerve is bothered by a disc, pain or numbness can travel throughout the body, wherever the nerve goes.

It may be difficult to stand up straight or move the neck. A limited range of motion is a known symptom.

Chiropractic Treatment For a Herniated Disc

Chiropractors perform gentle adjustments to the spinal column as one of their treatment options.

They treat people with herniated discs often. They are trained and experienced in natural and pain free methods to alleviate symptoms and help you get to a manageable place so you can adjust to your daily activities again.

Often, people in pain from a bulged disc are afraid of seeking out help where anyone might touch them. Don't worry. You can ask questions at your chiropractor's office. As professionals who treat herniated discs often, they know how painful the experience can be. The treatments are gentle and focus on relieving symptoms with a pain free and natural treatment plan.