Chiropractic Care for Slipped Discs

Chiropractic care for slipped discs is a natural, non-invasive way to treat a very painful problem. Here’s what to know.

Slipped disc pain makes it difficult to move comfortably. If you’ve suffered a slipped disc, chiropractic care can help with pain management and recovery.

What Is a Slipped Disc? 

A slipped disc, also known as a herniated disc or ruptured disc, is a medical condition that can be extremely painful and debilitating. It occurs when the gel-like center of a spinal disc breaks through its tough outer layer. 

The discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. When one slips out of place, it can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in your back, neck, or legs. In some cases, a ruptured disc can also lead to serious nerve damage.

What Can Cause a Herniated or "Slipped" Disc?

There are a few different things that can cause an intervertebral disc to slip out of place:

• Injury: Falls, car accidents, or other types of trauma 
• Overuse: Repeated lifting of heavy objects or other repetitive motions 
• Aging: Discs in your spine naturally wear down over time
• Disc degeneration: Discs in your spine start to break down due to age or wear and tear. 
• Pregnancy: Extra weight gained during pregnancy can put pressure on the discs in your spine and cause them to rupture.
• Obesity: Being overweight puts extra strain on the discs in your spine, making them more likely to rupture
• Smoking: Smoking decreases the blood flow to the discs in your spine, putting them at greater risk of rupture

How Do You Know if You Have a Herniated Disc?

There are several slipped disc symptoms that a chiropractic adjustment can treat. If you think you may have a slipped disc, it is important to seek medical attention right away.

Symptoms of a Slipped Disc

• Pain in the affected area, usually the back or neck
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Weakness

These herniated disc symptoms not only occur in the affected area, but they might also radiate out and cause shoulder pain or leg pain.

Should You See a Chiropractor for a Slipped Disc?

Yes. A chiropractor can diagnose and treat a slipped disc. They can provide safe, natural treatment and help you avoid the need for more invasive treatment, including surgery.

What Can a Chiropractor Do for a Slipped Disc? 

Provide Relief from Pain

One of the most common reasons why people see a chiropractor is for pain relief. And, if you're dealing with a slipped disc, there's a good chance that you're in quite a bit of pain.

A chiropractor may be able to help ease your discomfort by aligning your spine and providing other treatments.

Improve Mobility

Another common reason to see a chiropractor is for improved mobility. If your slipped disc is causing you to experience stiffness and reduced range of motion, chiropractic care may help.

A chiropractor can work to improve your mobility by gently manipulating your spine and providing other treatments. This may help you regain some of the range of motion that you've lost.

Help You Avoid Surgery

In some cases, a slipped disc may require surgery to correct. However, this isn't always the case.

Chiropractic care may help you avoid surgery by reducing your pain and improving mobility. In some cases, chiropractic care may even be able to help you heal your slipped disc without surgery.

Provide a Natural Treatment Option

Chiropractic care is a natural treatment option for many conditions, including a slipped or bulging disc. If you're looking for a non-invasive way to treat your disc problem, chiropractic care may be right for you.

Chiropractic Treatments for Slipped Herniated Discs

• Spinal manipulation and chiropractic adjustments: These are two of the most common treatments used by chiropractors to help relieve pain and improve function in people with a slipped disc. Spinal manipulation involves using the hands to apply force to the spine to restore normal joint movement and function. Chiropractic adjustments involve using a device to apply force to the spine to restore normal joint movement and function.
• Exercise and physical therapy: Exercise and physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles around the spine, which can help support the spine and prevent further injury. Physical therapy can also improve range of motion and flexibility, which can help manage a slipped disc.
• Ice and heat therapy: Ice and heat therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation in the area of the slipped disc. Ice should be applied for 20 minutes at a time, followed by heat for 20 minutes. Repeat this process as needed to help reduce symptoms.

Conclusion

Chiropractic care is generally safe for most people. There are some risks associated with chiropractic care, but these are typically rare and minor.

When it comes to slipped disc pain relief, chiropractic care may be able to provide you with pain relief, improved mobility, and other benefits. If you're dealing with a slipped disc, seeing a chiropractor may be the right move for you.

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.