Chiropractic care provides a non-invasive treatment to bulging, degenerated, or herniated discs. For many, this holistic approach has relieved various symptoms caused by disc herniation and kept them out of an operating room.
What is a Herniated Disc?
Spinal discs are soft and compressible discs that sit between the interlocking vertebrae, that make up your spinal cord. They have a soft, jelly-like interior (nucleus) and a tough exterior (annulus). Discs absorb the shock between your vertabrae when you walk, jump, run, twist, and bend.
A herniated disc occurs when the soft interior of a spinal disc pushes out through a tear or crack in the exterior. This can result in pain, numbness, and even weakness in the arms and legs.
Causes of Disc Herniation
Herniated discs can be caused by everyday movements and can often have no warning signs. Older patients are more prone to them as a result of gradual, aging-related wear and tear. Your spinal discs lose water content over time and therefore, some of their flexibility. This makes them more prone to tearing or rupturing.
Other common causes include traumatic accidents, weak muscles, and lifting heavy objects incorrectly by using back muscles instead of leg and thigh muscles. Twisting while lifting can also lead to a herniated disc.
How a Chiropractor Can Help
Chiropractors evaluate the entire spine when evaluating any injury. The holistic approach of chiropractic care enables a complete understanding of how the body is reacting to certain movements or bad habits.
By understanding what is causing the pain, a chiropractor can create a treatment plan that not only relieves symptoms but attacks the cause of the pain. Many times, what happens in one area of your spine can influence other parts of your spine and body.
If it is found that you have a herniated disc, there are a couple options that your chiropractor may offer, depending on your specific diagnosis. The most popular treatments here at Gardner Chiropractic & Injury are spinal adjustments and spinal decompression.
Spinal Decompression
During a spinal decompression therapy session, the chiropractor uses a harness to gently stretch the spine. The harness is attached to the patient’s hips while the patient is lying down on a fixed table.
The gentle pulling on the harness creates negative pressures within the spinal discs. This assists the discs to pull in hydration, and therefore, release the pressure from any nerves and soft tissues that are causing the pain.
This treatment is most commonly painless. Patients normally feel their spine stretching and lengthening during the session.
Many patients prefer chiropractic treatments to treat herniated discs as it does not use powerful and addictive painkillers. It is also an alternative to surgery which can result in a long and painful recovery time.
Care at Gardner Chiropractic & Injury
Dr. Paul Gardner is a highly experienced chiropractor in Gainesville, FL. Since he began practicing chiropractic, he has earned a reputation for integrity, compassion, and dedication with his patients. His diagnostic testing and treatments plans are thoughtful and effective.
If you are experiencing any spinal pain or think that you have a herniated disc, contact Gardner Chiropractic & Injury today to set up an appointment with our team.
