Discs are the cushioning within your spine that acts as shock absorbers. They prevent vertebrae and other parts from rubbing together. Discs are made of cartilage. The outer layer consists of hard cartilage, while discs’ inner layers are softer. Over time, vertebral spine discs become worn. Sometimes, injuries can cause discs to bulge or to become herniated. The cartilage can become stiffened and dehydrated. This will cause less cushion and reduce the space between vertebrae. You may feel pain, stiffness and restricted movement in the area if your space between vertebrae is too narrow.
What is a Disc Protrusion?
Slipped disc Bulging disc. Disc protrusion. Disc prolapse. Herniated disc. These terms are often interchangeable but don’t give a complete picture of what is actually happening inside your body. You have a disc that is composed of a soft, flexible material (the nucleus pulposus) and surrounded by a membrane (“the annulus fibrosus”), much like a stress ball.
The disc is intended to act as a shock absorber and allow your spine and muscles to bend, twist, move and change. The nucleus pulposus can press against the membrane if it is under enough pressure or force. This can cause a disc protrusion. Also known by prolapse or bulging disk. The annulus fibrosus may burst under enough pressure. This is known to be a “disc rupture”.
Symptoms for Disc Protrusion/Herniation
As the disc’s interior bulges out or leaks out, this puts pressure on the spinal nerves. This is why you feel pain and other symptoms.
The exact symptoms you experience depend on where the disc protrusion is located. But here are some common signs:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness
These symptoms are frequently felt in your limbs due to the way that your nerves branch throughout your body.
What Causes a Protrusion of Disc?
Disc protrusions occur as a result of degenerative conditions. Your discs can begin to thin as you age and may eventually become damaged. Gravity can pull on your spinal column and cause discs to protrude/rupture. This can be made faster by being overweight, poor posture, or overexertion.
A study discovered disc protrusion increases in younger people (around 25 year olds). 61% of 33 disc protrusions patients were smokers. The average Body Mass Index for all was in the “overweight” category.
A disc protrusion may also be caused or exacerbated by extreme force (e.g. a car wreck). While you may be in a recent car accident and can pinpoint the cause of your herniated spinal disc, many people do not know exactly when the damage occurred.
When you have a bulging disc
Bulging discs occur when the disc’s outer layer compresses and becomes more flattened. Although the bulge may not affect the entire disc it does need to be. The bulging disc can cause injury, but chiropractic care can decompress the area and reduce pain and inflammation.
Understanding a Herniated Disc
Herniated discs can be different to a bulging disc. A herniated spine is characterized by the destruction of the outer cartilage layer. The inner layer protrudes out from the tear. A herniated disc could also be called a ruptured, or slipped, disc by your doctor. A herniated disc means your outer layer of the disc has been damaged. You are more likely to feel pain. Nerve pain that is severe can result from herniated or bulging discs.
Chiropractic Assessments of Disc Problems
Chiropractic care examines your spine function to determine what chiropractic care can do about any areas that may be out of alignment. Working with a chiropractor can help you find pain relief. However, it is important that you continue to see your chiropractor. Chiropractic treatment starts with an examination of the spine to determine what is causing your pain, stiffness or inflammation. Your chiropractor will look at any imaging taken on your spine. This will allow you to see the condition of your discs. Your chiropractor will then create a treatment program to address the problem areas.
Treatment of Bulging and Herniated Discs
Chiropractic treatment is a great option for those suffering from disc pressure. To increase the space between your vertebrae, you can use decompression strategies such stretching and/or traction. To maintain your spine alignment, you will be instructed in strengthening exercises. It is possible to find relief in one visit, but you should continue seeking out care from your chiropractor if you want to treat a bulging disc.
Chiropractic care is a safe and holistic treatment for pain, stiffness, or swelling that results from a bulging, herniated, disc. If you believe that surgery is your only option for pain, it might be time to consult with a chiropractor. You may find you can reduce your pain and be able to move again. Some people may be able to delay their need for surgery. Others can have the surgery done right away.
Is chiropractic safe?
It is well-known that chiropractic care can be very helpful for low back pain. There is often an underlying fear. This treatment may increase your risk of lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH). Many times, someone is experiencing severe pain due to a herniated spinal disc. They delayed seeking treatment because they were nervous the chiropractor would hurt them. The chiropractor may have said that he would fracture their back. This treatment could involve forceful, fast movements that could injure or even hurt their back. There is much urban legend about the safety of chiropractic treatment.
Do Herniated Discs Lead to Sciatica and Back Pain
LBP is often caused by a herniated or bulging disc. LDH can also cause pain. We are able to gather information from you, such as your medical history. You might be afraid that the chiropractor will break your back. This can cause disc injuries or worsening. You may be anxious about this and need to get surgery.
What does Science tell us?
They examined whether seeing a chiropractor to relieve back pain or sciatica caused an increased incidence of herniated discs, which required them to undergo surgery. They compared patients who were treated by a chiropractor for back pain to those who had their regular doctor check for back problems. Assumedly, people who only saw their family doctor would not have received manual therapy (spinal adjustment) and those who saw the chiropractic office likely would.
The authors analyzed all adults who were admitted to an emergency room with acute LDH. They also examined those who needed early surgical intervention. This was from April 1994 through December 2004. They compared those who had seen a chiropractor in the past to those who didn’t. This was also true for patients who had already seen their primary physician (e.g. This was before they visited the emergency rooms.
As you can imagine this was a huge patient pool. The total population, measured in person years (numbers of people x the age), was over 100,000,000. That number is so overwhelming!
What were the outcomes?
In a population that numbered more than 100,000,000 person-years, they identified 195 cases in which acute LDH was treated with early surgery. They discovered that there was no risk for acute LDH in chiropractic visits.
What does this signify?
A bulging or herniated spine can cause back problems. It can begin with back pain, but can quickly progress to sciatica. People who have back pain frequently visit their family doctor, a chiropractor, or both. Unfortunately, some people suffering from back pain experience rapid progression. They need to go to the emergency department to have surgery. This study showed that the chiropractic treatment was not the cause of this progression.
Other gentle forms are also offered by chiropractors
A lot of patients come to our clinic with sciatica and back pain. One mistake is to believe that chiropractic care is all about spinal manipulation (getting your back straight). Modern chiropractors are able to offer several treatment options to help you get moving again and relieve your pain. Some of the treatments include soft tissue massage, intermittent traction, or graded mobilization.
Some chiropractors offer active care in addition to chiropractic treatment. This would include self help strategies to:
- Your pain will be relieved
- Spine Sparing Strategies is a way to safely resume your normal activities.