Most people never think about the discs that reside between their back’s vertebrae until those discs stop working. A damaged, or herniated, disc can be caused by overstretching, lifting a heavy object awkwardly, getting into an auto accident or simply growing older. When irritating a nearby nerve, the results can be excruciating pain, numbness or weakness in your arm or leg.
If you or a loved one are experiencing pain from a herniated disc, you should seek help as soon as you can. The pain rarely subsides with bedrest alone; you need to have it treated.
What can you do? Many people will look in their medicine cabinet for a solution. If their over-the-counter drugs won’t work, maybe their doctor could prescribe a stronger prescription pain medication?
Or you may want to consider a different solution. Perhaps you should consider chiropractic care? An experienced chiropractor is skilled at addressing herniated disc symptoms – without prescription drugs.
How do chiropractors usually address herniated discs?
- Initially, they view your medical history and conduct orthopedic and neurological tests.
- They look at your posture and may order x-rays to confirm their diagnosis.
- They evaluate your entire spine, from your neck to your lower back, to make sure you’re a good candidate for manual therapies, like spinal manipulation or mobilization.
- If they discover that you have advanced loss of strength or reflexes and have other atypical neurological findings, they’ll refer you to a spine surgeon.
- If you’re a good candidate for manual therapies, they will discuss a treatment plan to address your pain and flexibility.
What kind of techniques are used for herniated discs?
Flexion-distraction technique. This involves the use of a specialized table that stretches the spine, allowing a chiropractor to isolate the impacted area while gently flexing the spine. This can help move the disc away from the nerve, reducing inflammation and lessening the pain.
Pelvic blocking. Here, the chiropractor places cushioned wedges under each side of the pelvis and conducts gentle exercises to draw the disc away from the nerve on which it’s been pressing.
Manipulation under Anesthesia (MUA). Conducted at an ambulatory care center or hospital, the patient is sedated for 5-6 minutes while the chiropractor stretches and manipulates the affected area.
There is usually little or no pain associated with any of these techniques.
When it comes to herniated discs, chiropractic care is a proven and effective, drug-free, solution in reducing pain and inflammation, as an experienced professional, like the herniated discs treatment team in Wheaton, MD at a treatment center like AmeriWell Clinics, can explain.