Excruciating pain in your lower back can be uncomfortable and lead to sleepless nights. Sometimes it gets worse and you can’t even move. Although bulging or herniated discs are considered a natural part of the aging process, you don't have to live with the pain.
If you are suffering from back pain and are not sure if you could be having a herniated or bulging disc, you need to learn the difference and seek treatment from a disc pain chiropractor.
Read on to learn more about herniated/bulging disc treatment in Newnan, GA.
The spine consists of bones and rubbery discs that are stacked on top of one another. This forms the spinal canal. The spinal cord runs down the length of the spinal canal. The discs in the spine work like shock absorbers between the vertebrae.
A herniated disc, also called slipped, bulged, or ruptured disc is a part of the disc nucleus that gets pushed out of the annulus into the spinal canal through a rupture or tear in the annulus.
Herniated discs are in an early stage of degeneration. Gradual wear and tear on the spine, repeated stress, poor posture, and degenerative conditions can all lead to disc degeneration, leading to herniation or a bulge over time. Remember that the spinal canal has limited space, which means there’s not enough room for the spinal nerve and the displaced herniated disc fragment.
The displacement causes the disc to press on spinal nerves, something that results in pain. The pain can be severe depending on the extent of displacement.
Although herniated discs can happen in any part of the spine, they are more common in the lumbar spine, which is the lower back. Bulging discs are also common in the cervical spine, which is your neck area. Note that the place that you experience pain depends on the affected part of the spine.
Slipping a disc is unfortunately a very common result of an auto accident. Unfortunately it can be a very painful occurrence as well. In a traffic collision, the blunt force impact can play all sorts of havoc on your back. A slipped disc can begin to press against your spinal cord, which can cause Sciatica. If you have been in an an auto accident it is very important that you see a health care professional.
If you are in no immediate life threatening danger, a visit to a qualified chiropractor, like those at Arrowhead Clinic Newnan, can help relieve your pain. Your experienced chiropractor has a plethora of resources available to diagnose your condition. An accurate diagnosis will go a long way in helping your chiropractor develop an effective treatment plan for dealing with your pain. If you have back pain from a recent auto accident, contact us. Call us and schedule a free consultation with our experienced chiropractic lawyer.
Aging is one of the major causes of a herniated disc as disc material degenerates as one ages. The ligaments that hold the disc material in place weakens and a single strain or twist can cause the disc to rupture.
Research shows that there are genetic risk factors for disc disease. That means that if anyone in your family has or had a bulging disc, you have a chance of also experiencing the lumbar disc degeneration.
Injury from lifting items incorrectly, particularly when turning or twisting, can lead to a herniated disc. Physical activities that cause excessive strain can also lead to a bulging disc.
A herniated/bulging disc often occurs in the neck or lower back. Some of the symptoms of a herniated disc include:
You may experience some tingling or numbing sensation in your arms and legs if you have affected nerves. Coughing or sneezing could also cause nerve irritation, leading to shooting pain.
The disc presses on a nerve, which means that the muscles do not get the right nerve signal which can cause weakness over time.
You can experience lower back pain if you have herniated discs in your lower back. The neck discs cause arm pain. Leg pain is experienced in the calf, thighs, foot, and buttocks. Arm pain is intense on the shoulders.
Muscle spasms or cramping is common in your leg or back when you have a herniated disc.
In some severe cases, a person may experience loss of bladder control, foot drop, or loss of bowel control. If you experience any of these symptoms it’s time to seek disc pain treatment.
Getting the right diagnosis is crucial as this determines the type of treatment you need. A doctor or chiropractor will ask you some questions based on your medical history and symptoms. Among other questions, you’ll be asked to describe when the low back pain symptoms happen, how the pain feels, and what treatment or positions ease the pain.
They also need to do a thorough physical exam. Sometimes the doctor may suggest a CT or MRI to determine the cause of your back pain. The scans give a detailed picture of where you may have a herniated disc.
Sometimes a herniated disc heals by itself when inflammation decreases. However, in severe cases, the doctor may recommend physical therapy, medication, surgery, exercises, hydrotherapy, chiropractic manipulation, or pain management as disc pain treatment options.
Here’s a look at these treatment options.
Pain management is used to reduce the discomfort caused by the herniated disc through injections or medicine. These include non-steroidal medications, pain relievers, steroids, and muscle relaxants. The medication works to minimize the pain, but it doesn't stop the herniation from pressing on the spinal nerve.
Surgery or discectomy may be recommended if other conservative treatments do not improve your symptoms. You may need surgery if you experience loss of feeling or weakness in your legs.
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Visiting a disc pain chiropractor in Newnan, GA can improve spinal mobility and decrease muscle spasm and pain in the affected region. Chiropractic treatment focuses on reducing the symptoms by addressing the underlying cause.
The treatment removes pressure on the nerve root compressed by the bulging disc. Pressure removal is done through various chiropractic techniques like:
The body’s system is complex. This means that when you start experiencing pain due to the disc protrusion, the muscles around the area contract to limit movement and protect the area. A chiropractor applies muscle releases to certain parts of the body to aid in movement.
Chiropractic adjustments involve a gentle, yet quick movement to a particular joint. That allows the increase of space in the joint. Adjusting helps to align the part of the protruded disc to move back into the center of the disc.
Although chiropractic care is not the only pain management method for herniated discs, it’s one of the most effective and safest available. A disc pain chiropractor addresses the root cause by treating the misalignment, the nerve interference, and the herniated disc.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s time to visit a chiropractor to get a thorough diagnosis.
