If you’ve never experienced the pain of a herniated disc in your back, consider yourself lucky. Disc herniations, one of the more common spinal injuries, can be excruciating and can impact your day-to-day life and well-being. If you’re experiencing pain caused by disc herniation, however, you’ve come to the right place–The Spine Clinic in Lake Worth.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
A disc is a rubbery-type cushion that rests between the individual bones (vertebrae) that comprise your spine. Each disc has a soft, jelly-like center that’s enclosed within a more durable rubbery exterior. A herniated disc occurs when a portion of the jelly-like center pushes through a tear in the rubbery exterior. The pain originates from the protruding jelly-like center touching a nearby nerve, resulting in pain and numbness or weakness in a limb.
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc
Herniated discs are most common in the lower back, which bears the brunt of strain whenever you lift something or bend down. If the herniated disc is in your lower back, you’re most likely going to feel pain in your buttocks area, down into your thigh and calf. If the herniated disc is in your neck (also a common location), the pain will most likely surface in your shoulder and arm. The sharp, burning pain from a herniated disc can also shoot into your limbs when you make a sudden movement, such as coughing or sneezing. Plus, certain sitting, standing, or even prone positions may aggravate the pain.
You’ll probably also experience numbness and tingling that radiates from the area of the herniated disc. Plus, it’s common for muscles around the injured disc to weaken, affecting your ability to lift and hold objects or even walk without pain or stumbling.
Treatment Options for Herniated Discs
To determine the type of treatment, your physician will most likely have you undergo diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan. Once you’ve been formally diagnosed, there’s a variety of options your doctor can prescribe:
- Pain medication: Your doctor may recommend you try over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication before prescribing anything more substantial.
- Prescription painkillers or muscle relaxers: You may be prescribed one of these types of medications if OTC pain relief isn’t working. Please use caution if you are prescribed a painkiller or muscle relaxer and use only as directed.
- Injection: If medication isn’t helping, a steroidal injection such as cortisone may help. Epidurals are also commonly prescribed, and these injections can provide quite a bit of relief that lasts anywhere from months to years.
- Physical therapy: If the pain is manageable, physical therapy can help strengthen the disc herniation areas and reduce the pain through exercises and stretches.
- Surgery: This is generally the last resort, as there is some risk associated with spinal surgery. And it’s the least used method to treat a herniated disc.
What About Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care can be quite effective for herniated disc pain, because herniated discs can be caused by subluxation, which is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) moves out of position. A chiropractor is trained to locate these subluxations and reduce or correct them. At The Spine Clinic, we have years of experience dealing with subluxations and herniated discs, and we’ll perform the proper adjustments to not only minimize the pain you’re experiencing but also help the disc heal on its own. Chiropractic care for a herniated disc is a safe, non-invasive way to help you on your way to a pain-free lifestyle.
Lake Worth Herniated Disc
If you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc, come see us at The Spine Clinic in Lake Worth. During your initial visit, we’ll have you fill out some paperwork, and then you’ll have a detailed discussion with the chiropractor about your health and history. From there, the chiropractor will conduct a structural analysis and may perform specific tests based on the analysis. In most cases, you’ll receive treatment for your herniated disc during your first visit as well–and that means you’ll immediately be on your way to feeling better!
Call The Spine Clinic in Lake Worth at (561) 963-6227 today to set up your first appointment.
