One of the back conditions that patients routinely visit a chiropractor for is a herniated disc. This type of injury generally responds well to chiropractic treatment so it’s wise to schedule an appointment in the early stages.
A herniated disc refers to a situation where the outer portion of one of your vertebral discs has been torn. This allows the inner portion of the disc, or nucleus, to protrude through the disc wall (think of jam coming out of a donut). Herniated discs are sometimes called ruptured discs or slipped discs. The herniated portion of the disc can end up compressing nerves that surround the disc, which is why it is often associated with a lot of pain.
A herniated disc usually has an original traumatic cause, such as lifting something heavy or twisting. Sometimes herniated discs can become episodic, where they gradually improve but sometimes a little lift or sitting too long can cause them to become painful again. As we get older, our discs lose moisture content and become less flexible, making them prone to tears and ruptures without a whole lot of stress being placed on them. Some factors that may increase your risk of suffering a herniated disc such as having a physically demanding job, improper lifting, and even sitting too long every day.
Herniated discs can cause a lot of pain if they press on a nerve. If your herniated disc is in your lower back, you’ll be more likely to feel pain in your buttocks, hips, thighs, and calves. If the problem is in your cervical vertebrae in your neck, then you’re more likely to feel pain in your shoulders and arms. Typically, the muscles that surround the area affected will also become spasmed, causing limitations in movement and pain.
Many patients will come to us with these symptoms, but no diagnosis. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, or any back pain that’s been undiagnosed, our chiropractors can assess the issue and formulate an effective diagnosis and treatment plan.
Chiropractic treatment can vary from very gentle techniques, such a mobilisation and acupuncture, to stronger techniques such as adjustments. Typically, with disc herniations we start with gentle treatment only to calm down inflammation and muscle spasm, and then gradually progress the treatment as the disc heals.
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