A herniated disc occurs when the nucleus of a spinal disc protrudes through its exterior, or annulus, causing it to tear. We usually see these injuries in the lumbar (lower back) and cervical (upper back and neck) spine. If you ever feel a tingling or numbing sensation in your arms or legs, it could be indicative of a herniated disc.
A Lehigh Acres physician at Specific Care Chiropractic can examine you, have you fill out a questionnaire about your symptoms, and construct a herniated disc treatment plan for you if you suffer from this type of injury. We will work to alleviate your symptoms so that you can get back to your routine pain-free.
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc
According to Mayo Clinic, those who have a herniated disc may not even notice it. However, symptoms for this type of injury include:
- Pain in your arm or leg: If you have a herniated disc in your cervical spine, you may have a sharp, shooting, and/or burning pain in your arm and shoulder. If you have a herniated disc in your lumbar spine, you will feel this pain in your buttocks and leg.
- Weakness: You may have difficulty lifting or walking.
- Tingling or numbness: It’s common to have a tingling or numbing sensation in the nerves surrounding the affected area.
The pain may be aggravated when you sneeze, cough, or make certain movements.
Circumstances that could heighten your risk of suffering from a Herniated Disc
Certain circumstances could make you more susceptible to suffering from a herniated disc. To name a few:
- Overweight: The extra weight could put a strain on your spine, particularly your lower back.
- Genetics: Some people are more genetically predisposed to develop a herniated disc than others.
- Smoking: Your discs can deteriorate from the nicotine and lack of oxygen.
- Strenuous labor: Regularly lifting heavy objects can wear on your back over time.
- Aging: Our musculoskeletal system weakens as we age.
Although it’s uncommon, we have some patients who incurred a herniated disc from a car accident.
Forms of Herniated Disc treatment we can employ to help alleviate your pain
When you come to Specific Care Chiropractic for your first appointment, we will inquire about all things related to your pain. We will address its location, triggers, intensity, and frequency. Then, we will complete a physical exam and possibly order certain tests, like MRIs or X-rays.
Once we get the results back, your physician will decide what they will do for your treatment. For our herniated disc patients, we typically try different forms of chiropractic care. Some of them include:
- Diversified adjustment: This way is the most well-known form of chiropractic treatment. It involves the physician thrusting your spine back into alignment.
- Seated diversified: This technique is like diversified adjustment, except that the patient is seated.
- Side posture: Our doctors typically use this method on those with lower back pain. While the patient is lying on their side, the physician applies force on their lower back.
- Knee-chest: This technique is for cervical manipulation, as the physician realigns the patient’s neck or head.
- Thompson Drop-Table Technique: The patient lies down on a table divided into seven different sections. These sections help the patient stay in place while the physician applies force to realign the spine.
- Toggle recoil: Not all techniques involve forceful movement. The toggle recoil treatment is a softer approach for spinal realignment.
- Activator: This hand-held device mimics the movements that your physician would use with their hands. However, an activator is more controlled and doesn’t put as much pressure on the joints.
In addition to chiropractic corrective care, we use physiotherapy. Your physician may include rehabilitative therapy and electrical muscle stimulation (E-STIM) therapy for your herniated disc treatment. You are not limited to chiropractic care or physiotherapy, as your physician may use a combination of the two.
Research into how Herniated Disc treatment has benefited patients
The following two studies have exemplified the effectiveness of chiropractic care and physiotherapy for patients who suffer from herniated discs:
- The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics discovered that chiropractic care, E-STIM therapy, and rehabilitative therapy provide lower back and sciatica relief to those who suffer from a lumbar herniated disc.
- In another study, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that those with a herniated disc in their cervical spine benefited from chiropractic adjustments, cervical manipulation, physiotherapy, and various exercises.
If you have any questions about different treatment styles, including those mentioned in these studies, bring them up to your physician.
What our former patients say about working with us
No one can speak to how we care for our patients as much as them. Check out some of their reviews:
“If you have spinal issues, I highly recommend them above anyone as a first stop. The staff and Dr.s are friendly and caring… Thank you to all the staff for providing answers and some relief from my pain.” – Jennifer L.
“The folks here are all great. They’re friendly, courteous, and respectful. They all seem to try to do whatever they can to make your experience as pleasant as possible. They have great communication and explain what they’re doing and why…” – Tony S.
We are standing by to take your call so we can determine how to provide you with the best treatment possible.
Connect with Specific Care Chiropractic for help with your Herniated Disc injury today
We all suffer from back pain or muscle weakness at some point, but that doesn’t mean you should write it off. It could be the sign of a more serious injury, such as a herniated disc. Failure to seek prompt care could lead to long-term pain and other complications. At Specific Care Chiropractic, we can help you avoid this pain and find a treatment plan that’s made just for you.
For those who sustained a herniated disc in an accident, we can work with your attorney to help you hold the negligent party accountable. You deserve fair compensation. We will provide medical testimony, your prognosis report, and medical invoices. Schedule your appointment online or call us today at (239) 369-9109.
