Chiropractic for Disc Problems

Disc problems can make themselves known with various symptoms, but pain is the most common one. A lot of patients will call us saying they have a “slipped disc” or a herniated disc. First off, we want to help you understand more about what discs are and what causes disc problems:

WHAT IS A DISC?

A disc is the cartilage between the bones (vertebrae) of your spine. The cartilage attaches to the vertebra above and below it. This creates a separation between your vertebrae that allows for the movement/flexibility so much of us take for granted.

WHAT IS A SLIPPED DISC?

So discs cannot technically slip, but they can wedge, bulge, protrude, and herniate. A bulging or herniated disc occurs when the fluid inside this cartilage pushes through. This can irritate your nearby nerves and result in pain and numbness in your arms or legs.

There are two types of herniated discs: protrusions and prolapses. A protrusion is when the fluid pushes out but remains connected. A prolapse is when the disc fluid actually becomes disconnected from the rest of the disc. With a prolapsed disc, the pain tends to be severe and can make normal activities like sitting, standing, walking, etc. very difficult. A prolapsed disc usually leads to numbness/tingling in your legs and/or arms.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DISC PROBLEMS

Here are signs that you may have disc issues that require a chiropractic consultation:

• Tenderness or stiffness of spine
• Leg, buttock, foot pain
• Shoulder, neck or arm pain with certain movements
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in body parts served by affected nerves

FREQUENTLY ASKED DISC PROBLEM QUESTIONS

How does chiropractic help disc problems?

The purpose of chiropractic care is to locate and correct areas of the spine interfering with proper nervous system function. Because your discs are so close to your spinal cord and nerve roots, disc issues are quite commonly treated by chiropractic cases. Chiropractic adjustments help restore proper motion and position of malfunctioning spinal bones, reducing nervous system involvement. If caught before permanent damage, disc tissue often returns to a more normal size and shape.

Aren’t disc problems simply a part of the normal aging process?

No disc problems shouldn’t be considered normal, especially since they are treatable. Disc problems do tend to be caused by years of degeneration and are therefore more common as we age, however they can also occur at any time. Many disc problems are nonsymptomatic until the advanced stages of degeneration, so it is important to get checked regularly.

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