Chiropractic Treatment for Disc Herniation

Chiropractic treatment is a non-surgical option for disc herniation. Chiropractic care is frequently the preferred first choice for treatment since it is non-invasive and avoids the use of medications or injections.

Your spine is made up of a series of bones (vertebrae).  Between each bone is a rubbery disc that acts as a cushion. When the soft center of a rubbery disc is pushing through a crack in the tougher exterior casing, it’s called a disc herniation.

With proper treatment, a herniated disc does not mean a lifetime of unbearable pain.

Is a herniated disc serious? Yes.  Many herniated discs can be managed successfully with proper care and monitoring.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have:

• Loss of balance, bladder control or consciousness
• Vomiting
• Loss of sensation
• Symptoms are rapidly getting worse

A disc herniation falls into a broader category of disc derangement.

Disc derangement is a general term for when a disc has been damaged.  This damage can be minor or major depending on age and type of trauma. The disc is made up of a gelatinous center called the nucleus pulposus surrounded by fibrocartilaginous material (annulus fibrosis).  When the annulus fibrosus is torn due to stress, the gelatinous nucleus pulposus can ooze out.

How far that gelatinous nucleus pulposus oozes out is what determines what kind of disc derangement you have.

There are four stages of disc derangement:

• degeneration,
• prolapse,
• extrusion,
• and sequestration.

Degeneration

The first stage of disc derangement is when the nucleus pulposus begins oozing into the layers of annulus fibrosis.

Prolapse

Prolapse is when the nucleus pulposus pushes all the way out to the last layers of the annulus.

Extrusion

Extrusion is when nucleus pulposus has left the confinement of the annulus fibrosis.  This is the state where nucleus pulposus can physically start interfering with surrounding structures.

Sequestration

Sequestration is the most severe. The nucleus pulposus has left the confinement of the annular fibrosis and has broken off into little pieces.  These pieces can travel and cause interference with the surrounding structures.

Any stage of disc derangement can cause pain.

How much pain depends upon the individual and the location of the derangement.  Extrusion and sequestration pose the most serious risk of the four.  Anytime nucleus pulposus has left its confinement, it can cause impingement and pain.

In rare cases, disc derangement actually pinches a nerve, causing pain.  Usually, the pain associated with disc derangement comes from the inflammatory response of the body to the change in structure. Inflammation occurs around the deranged disc, causing the nerve to become irritated.  This in turn causes pain.

An MRI can show the location and what type of disc derangement is present.

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

Disc issues can manifest in various forms. Some individuals may have herniated discs yet experience no noticeable symptoms. The nature of the symptoms varies based upon where the herniated disc is located.

Cervical disc herniation symptoms:

• Pain in the arm or hand; this pain often feels like it is traveling down the arm or radiating
• Numbness and tingling
• Weakness in the arms
• In severe cases, reduced reflexes in the upper limbs with increased reflexes in the lower limbs

Lumbar disc herniation symptoms:

• Low back pain that travels down the buttocks, legs and feet
• Numbness and tingling
• Weakness in the legs
• Decreased reflexes

Risk factors for herniated disc:

• Overweight: excess weight puts extra stress and different weight loading on discs
• Physically demanding jobs
• Genetics: a family history of disc herniation
• Age: most likely to occur between 30 and 50

What causes a herniated disc?

Herniated discs can happen gradually with repeat stress.   In other cases,  trauma (like a car accident) can damage or displace one or more discs.

Common car accident injuries include

• bulging discs (when a disc shifts out of place and bulges into the spinal canal),
• annular tears,
• herniated discs.

How do you treat a herniated disc?

Treatments for a herniated disc include:

• Gentle chiropractic treatment with adjustments
• Acupuncture
• Medical massage therapy
• Cervical traction
• Physical therapy
• At-home exercises and stretches
• Postural correction
• Weight reduction
• OTC pain medications, muscle relaxers and prescription opioids.
• Surgery

An important thing to remember with a herniated disc is to avoid too much bed rest.  Lying in bed waiting for the pain to go away is one of the worst things you can do.  Taking it easy and not lifting heavy things is fine.

Gentle Chiropractic Treatment for Disc Herniation

Gentle chiropractic care has been demonstrated  to effectively treat lumbar disc herniation.  A gentle chiropractic care technique (activator method) has advantages over traditional chiropractic techniques when treating symptomatic lumbar disc herniation.¹

We [the case study authors] speculate that the use of an AAI, combined with Activator methods, may provide definitive benefits over side-posture manipulation of the lumbar spine in treatment of resistive disc lesions, because of the lack of torsional stress imposed upon the disc during instrumental spinal adjustment.

In another case study, Activator-assisted spinal manipulative therapy had positive subjective and objective results for low back pain in a patient with degenerative disk disease.²

Yet another case study concluded:³

Conservative chiropractic treatment may provide an effective therapeutic intervention in selected cases of cervical disc protrusion.

This study specifically cited “instrument-delivered adjustments” (gentle chiropractic) as providing benefit in cases in which manual manipulation causes an exacerbation of the symptoms or is contraindicated altogether.

Other gentle chiropractic techniques, such as the flexion-distraction technique, the drop technique and pelvic blocking, have been shown to be helpful in treating disc herniations.^3,4

Flexion-Distraction Technique

This spinal adjustment method utilizes a specialized table that allows the chiropractor to gently stretch your spine.

The photo above is of William sitting on our specialized table that gently stretches your spine.

This technique is gentle and typically painless, making it suitable for individuals experiencing significant discomfort. It can help reposition the herniated disc away from the nerve, providing symptom relief.

Pelvic blockage Treatments

This approach makes use of specially designed cushion wedges. During treatment, these wedges are placed beneath each side of your pelvis. This positioning helps to naturally shift the herniated disc away from the impacted nerve. In addition to addressing herniated discs, pelvic blocking can also be beneficial for other issues such as headaches and general body pain.

Acupuncture Treatment for Disc Herniation

Herniated discs can cause inflammation and pain, but acupuncture can reduce it. While it doesn’t address the root cause of degenerative disc disease, acupuncture can provide relief from symptoms and help slow the disease’s advancement.

Individuals undergoing acupuncture treatment could see a faster healing journey. Additionally, acupuncture aids in improving overall movement capabilities. When it comes to alleviating pain and enhancing mobility, acupuncture may offer more advantages compared to traditional physical therapy methods. After undergoing surgery for a lumbar disc issue, acupuncture might prove to be more beneficial than standard medical treatments for alleviating post-surgical discomfort.

Medical Massage Therapy Treatment for Disc Herniation

If you are experiencing symptoms of a herniated disc or have been in a Florida car accident and fear you have a herniated disc, you should contact Advanced Wellness Solutions.