November Newsletter: Dealing with back pain? A herniated disc could be the cause

Woman with possible cervical disc herniation

Dealing with Back Pain? A Herniated Disc Could be the Cause

Nagging pain in your back could be a sign that you have a herniated disc. Although back pain often improves after a few days of rest, herniated discs cause symptoms that may last weeks or months. Herniated discs can happen at any age, but are more common in older people.

How a Herniated Disc Causes Back Pain

Your spine is made up of a series of small bones called vertebrae. Rubbery discs between each vertebra help you move and bend easily and absorb shock when you jump, run, play sports, or do yardwork. These spinal discs are composed of a soft inner core covered by a tough outer coating.

Herniated discs occur when the outer coating of a spinal disc tears. When a disc is herniated, moving causes the soft inner core to ooze through the protective coating and presses on nerves in your spine. This pressure can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on where the herniated disc is located. According to Medline Plus, herniated discs most often occur in the lower back or neck.

If your herniated disc is in your neck, you might notice pain in your neck or shoulder that travels to your arm and hand. A bulging disc in your back could trigger pain in your back, legs, buttocks, and feet. Tingling, numbness, and weakness can also occur. The pain usually affects just one side of your body and may feel worse at night or after you wake up in the morning.

What Causes Herniated Discs?

Herniated discs may be caused by:

  • Activities That Involve Frequent Bending or Twisting
  • Lifting Heavy Boxes or Items
  • Falls or Injuries
  • Poor Posture
  • Being Overweight

Age can also be a factor in developing the condition. Years of wear and tear takes a toll on discs and makes them more likely to herniate. Younger people who spend a lot of their time playing video games or using digital devices are also at increased risk of developing herniated discs.

Treating Herniated Disc Pain with Chiropractic

Chiropractic treatment eases the pain of a herniated disc and could help you avoid surgery. In a study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapies, researchers reported that spinal manipulation treatment improved symptoms in 90.5% of patients after 3 months and in 88% of patients at one year.

Chiropractors use several treatments designed to:

  • Ease Pain
  • Relieve Pressure on the Nerves
  • Move the Bulging Part of the Disc Away from the Nerves

Depending on the location of your herniated disc and your symptoms, your doctor may recommend one or more of these treatments:

  • Spinal Manipulation. Quick thrusts from your chiropractor's hands or a device called an activator realign vertebrae during spinal manipulation treatment. The treatment helps relieve disc pressure on the nerves and reduce painful inflammation.
  • Flexion-Distraction. Also called spinal decompression, flexion-distraction moves the bulging area of the disc away from the nerves while gently stretching the spine and improve your range of motion. During the treatment, you'll lie on a special table that moves as your chiropractor works on your spine.
  • Massage. Spasms and muscle tension may make your pain worse when you have a herniated disc. Massage loosens tight muscles and tissues, stops spasms, increases circulation, and decreases inflammation.
  • Pelvic Blocking. During pelvic blocking, soft foam blocks placed under your body at strategic points ease pressure and pain.
  • Cold Laser Therapy. The energy produced from laser light stimulates healing, may decrease the size of the herniation, and eases pain, inflammation and numbness.

Do you think you have a herniated disc? We can help relieve your pain with chiropractic treatments. Give us a call when you're ready to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

Spine Universe: Chiropractic Care and Back Pain: Non-Invasive Treatment for Bulging, Ruptured, or Herniated Discs (Slipped Discs), 5/10/2019

Laser Therapy: Low Level Laser Therapy for Patients with Cervical Disk Hernia, 9/30/2012

Chiropractic Economics: Drop Table for Herniation, 11/11/2014

Medline Plus: Herniated disk, 7/25/2020

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics: Outcomes of Acute and Chronic Patients with Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniations Receiving High Velocity, Low-Amplitude, Spinal Manipulative Therapy: a Prospective Observational Cohort Study with One-Year Follow-Up, March/April 2014

Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-5:30 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-5:30 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-2:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "Great staff and had awesome results!!! Best in the business!!"
    Shelly Fourth grade
  • "Dr. Bank and the entire staff are amazing! They truly care for your health... and treat you as a family!! Thank you!!"
    Bobbie Jo Bloom
  • "Dr Banks has saved my quality of life! I was involved in two car accidents and go back for regular maintenance. When I waited too long between visits I was unable to walk and he worked me in. Within two visits I was back to normal. I highly recommend him. His staff is also so caring and professional!"
    Dominique Gerardo
  • "I was searching for a chiropractor because I was not getting results. I have to say I am very pleased I tried Back to Welness. They take the time to explain everything clearly. The Dr goes over everything, explains in detail what’s going to happen and the results you can expect. He doesn’t pull any punches. All I have to say is WOW! After multiple adjustments the first day, the results where BETTER than ANY Chiro I have ever seen. I am a tiny bit soar the next day but aching bulging disk pain is GONE. After ten years of that pain it’s a god send!"
    Darin Morgan
  • "Caring staff and by far the best chiropractor I have ever been to. Dr. Bank is always able to help me find relief and feel better. I drive 45 minutes to see him because he is so good."
    Country Cupicake
  • "I feel so blessed to live right up the street from this place. The staff are wonderful and Dr. Banks is amazing. They can be very busy but will make you feel like you’re the only patient in the whole building !!"
    Candy Arellano