Herniated disc pain greatly impacts the quality of someone’s daily activities. Whether it’s your lower back bringing severe, sharp pains after sitting all day at work, or your neck hurting like never before, they can bring extreme discomfort for extended periods of time or after certain movements. Are you looking for a physician who can offer herniated disc pain relief in Raleigh, NC and wondering, “can a chiropractor fix a herniated disc?” Below, we explore common causes and discuss both immediate and lifestyle treatments to reverse the subluxation.
What is a Herniated Disc?
A herniated disc refers to a problem with one of the discs that sit between the individual vertebrae that stack to make your spine.
Spinal discs are comprised of a soft, jelly-like nucleus encased in a tougher, rubbery exterior called the annulus. Sometimes referred to as a slipped disc or a ruptured disc, a herniated disc occurs when some of the nucleus pushes out through a tear in the annulus.
Furthermore, a herniated disc can occur in any part of the spine, resulting in irritation to a nearby nerve. Depending on the location, it can result in minor to severe pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg.
What Causes Them?
Although a plethora of things can contribute to the herniation of a disc, below are the six most common causes:
- Wear and tear: Discs dry out and aren’t as flexible as they once were.
- Repetitive movements: Work, lifestyle, and certain sports activities that put stress on the spine, especially the lower back, further weaken an already vulnerable area.
- Lifting the wrong way: Never lift while bent at the waist. Proper lifting entails lifting with your legs and a straight back.
- Injury: High-impact trauma can cause the disc to bulge, tear, or rupture.
- Obesity: Carrying excess weight puts an undue amount of strain on the spine.
- Genetics: There are some genes that are more commonly present in individuals with disc degeneration. More research is needed to investigate the role of these genes—they could be targets of biological treatment in the future.
Treatment Options: Can a Chiropractor Fix a Herniated Disc?
Did you know that chiropractic is actually a preferred treatment method for many patients with bulging and herniated discs? This is because chiropractic care is non-invasive and does not utilize prescription drugs or injections. With your diagnosis, both you and your chiropractor can work together to find the best treatment method to provide long-term relief.
To receive the most accurate diagnosis, your chiropractor will verify the issue by:
- Asking questions about your medical history and current symptoms
- Assessing your posture, gait, and pain levels
- Performing a physical examination to test nerve function, reflexes, and muscle tone
- Ordering an MRI or x-ray in addition to other diagnostic testing for an inside look at what is going on in your body
Chiropractic Treatment Methods
Chiropractic care is known for focusing on the entire body, not just the area causing you pain. Furthermore, they will treat your entire spine and provide self-care direction, exercise, and nutritional recommendations so that you can continue to progress and have long-term pain relief. Below are common chiropractic treatment methods that will help fix your herniated disc.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Through focused chiropractic adjustments, your chiropractor will gently use low force techniques to relieve the painful symptoms by manipulating your spine around and at the disc that is bulging or herniated.
Traction Therapy
Traction therapy is a decompression exercise that encourages correct alignment from your neck and spine. Typically, this exercise occurs before a chiropractic adjustment and can also be done at home when prescribed by your chiropractor. Depending on your individual x-ray results, your chiropractor will develop customized exercises catered to your body’s health.
Laser Therapy
Approved by the FDA in 2002, laser therapy, or photo-biomodulation, is the use of specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. These effects include:
- Improved healing time
- Pain reduction
- Increased circulation
- Decreased swelling
- Reduced muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain
Whole-Body Vibration
Typically, after each chiropractic adjustment, you can stand on a vibration plate for a few minutes. Doing so increases the longevity of your adjustment. Additional benefits include:
- Improving posture and balance
- Increasing flexibility
- Enhancing endurance
- Reducing inflammation and back pain
However, it is important to note that whole-body vibration is best done under chiropractic approval and supervision.
Chiropractor for Herniated Disc Pain Relief in Raleigh, NC with Team Chiro
Anyone can crack a back, neck, or knuckles. However, only a spinal engineer can truly fix the spinal issues you are facing and generate the greatest long-term relief. At Team Chiropractic, our team of qualified spinal engineers works hard to create a custom treatment plan according to what your body needs for long-term restoration.
With over 25 years of service, we are the leading spinal adjustment practice in the Raleigh area and are uniquely suited to helping relieve your sciatica pain through safe, professional spinal adjustment. Our Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioners (CCEP) and Certified Chiropractic Sports Physicians (CCSP) enable us to correct the overall biomechanics, which enables you to hold your correction.
We believe in the six essentials to healthy living: spiritual/mental alignment, physical alignment, nutritional alignment, exercise in alignment, rest in alignment, and removing chemical stress. By offering both services and products that adhere to the six essentials, we help promote an overall health and wellness treatment for every client who comes through our doors.
If you or someone you know is looking for a herniated disc treatment in Raleigh, NC or the greater Raleigh area, we are here to help! Contact us online today or give us a call at 919-788-8881 to schedule your initial appointment and x-ray. We look forward to helping restore your health.
