Between each spinal vertebra, there is a disc that acts as a shock absorber. A disc herniation also called a slipped disc, occurs when one of these cushioning discs becomes damaged and puts strain on the nearby nerves and spinal cord. One of the treatments for disc herniation is chiropractic care.
How does spinal decompression work?
Spinal decompression relieves pressure on the spinal cord and any nerves running through the spinal cord that are misaligned. It works by stretching and repositioning the spine to relieve the pressure on the discs that are under duress. Spinal decompression can come in the form of surgery or noninvasive treatments like chiropractic.
What is nonsurgical spinal decompression?
Nonsurgical spinal decompression is any treatment that uses methods other than a surgical procedure to relieve spinal pressure. These methods include chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, laser therapy, and massage therapy. They use noninvasive more natural methods to relieve the pressure. Chiropractic care is a nonsurgical method of spinal decompression where the spinal subluxation is identified and moved back into alignment by a manual adjustment.
What is the best method for spinal decompression?
It is best to use a myriad of alternative techniques to decompress the spine. Treatments like chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, and laser therapy work together to decompress the spine and aid the body’s natural healing process. Chiropractic care is a good treatment for spinal decompression because chiropractors safely adjust the spine back into place to relieve spinal pressure.
What are the pros and cons of spinal decompression?
The upside of spinal decompression includes pain relief, spinal realignment, and overall good health. Spinal decompression therapies like chiropractic can be more cost-effective and generally don’t have negative side effects. There is always the risk that an alternative therapy like chiropractic may not work, but the risk of side effects from medication or surgery can be higher. Consult a chiropractor for spinal decompression first to see if they can relieve spinal pain before pursuing medication or surgery.
What are the risks of spinal decompression surgery?
Spinal decompression surgery should only be considered if other treatments like chiropractic are not successful. Risks of the surgery include infection, a blood clot developing in the DVT vein in the leg, and damage to the spinal nerves or cord which could result in paralysis.
What is the chiropractic treatment for disc protrusion and herniation?
Chiropractors treat disc protrusion and herniation with the use of manual techniques to put the slipped disc back into place. They will examine your spine, ask about your pain, identify the misalignment in the spine and use manual manipulation or an activator to put it back in place. In addition to manual adjustments, chiropractors may also prescribe a treatment plan with laser therapy, massage therapy, and stretches.
How to get pain relief from a herniated lumbar disc?
While pain medication and injections will relieve pain for a herniated lumbar disc, they may be short-term solutions that mask the pain. Chiropractic care can identify the source of the pain, which may be caused by a misalignment of the spine and discs. They use safe manual adjustments to put the bones and muscles back into place and relieve the pain at the source.
Do all spinal herniated discs pinch nerves?
While it is common to have a herniated disc and a pinched nerve, a herniated disc doesn’t always pinch a nerve. A pinched nerve is the result of too much pressure from surrounding tissues so it can occur from a herniated disc compressing a nerve, but it can also be caused by misaligned tendons and muscles.
Do cortisone shots for herniated discs work?
A cortisone shot is a combination of a steroid and a numbing agent injected into the epidural space of the spine. These shots are designed to reduce the inflammation that is causing the pain and cannot make herniated discs smaller or heal them. Chiropractic care aims to heal the herniated disc by targeting the misalignment that is causing the pain.
How to know if I have a spinal disc herniation?
Symptoms of spinal disc herniation include pain on only one side of the body, sharp pain in the leg, hips, or thighs, numbness or tingling in those areas, and muscle weakness.
How to know if I have a lumbar strain or a herniated disc?
Lumbar strains typically affect only the low back and aren’t painful in any other area of the body. Pain caused by lumbar strain usually lessens when bending forward and returns when straightening. Herniated discs usually cause pain down the arms or legs depending on the location and hurt with any back movement.
Can spinal stenosis be caused by a herniated disc?
Spinal stenosis is when the spinal canal narrows leading to a painful pinching of the spinal cord or nerves in the spine. A herniated disc can cause spinal stenosis if it protrudes into the spinal canal.
Can lumbar traction cause more damage to disc protrusion?
Lumbar traction is a form of spinal decompression therapy that takes the pressure off the compressed discs and allows the spine to straighten and heal naturally. A trained professional like a chiropractor or physical therapist will use either their hands or a system of weights and pulleys to relieve the pressure on the spine. It doesn’t cause more damage to a herniated disc, but it could potentially make the pain worse instead of better. Consult with your chiropractor before using lumbar traction about your health history to see if you would be a good candidate.
Can spinal disc herniation be cured?
About 80% of people will experience a herniated disc in their lifetime and most will heal themselves on their own. Chiropractic care can hasten the healing process of a herniated disc and help alleviate pain quickly by putting the slipped disc back into alignment.
What are the ways to recover quickly from a herniated disc?
A chiropractic adjustment is one of the best ways to put yourself on a quick recovery from a herniated disc because it aids the body’s healing process by putting the slipped disc back into place. Self-care is also recommended after an adjustment including restricting your activity and using ice/heat therapy to aid in the body’s healing process.
Call Thrive Chiropractic at 208-345-2222 today to see how they can help with your herniated disc.
