Did you know that back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide? One of the most common sources of back and neck pain is a herniated disc. Read on to discover how we at Algonquin Chiropractic treat this condition.

If you come to Algonquin Chiropractic for your herniated disc treatment, you will receive chiropractic care tailored to your needs. We will perform a thorough examination of your herniated disc and determine the best course of action.

One of the worst things about a bulging disc is how seemingly harmless activities, like sitting or lying down, can worsen the pain. We understand how frustrating this truth can be. Therefore, we want to help.

We assist our patients by teaching them simple activities they can do every day to decrease their pain. For example, there are many gentle stretches patients can do instead of sitting to reduce their discomfort. We also recommend many other home remedies, including ice, topical analgesics, and better sleep positions.

If you live near Algonquin, IL, and believe you have a herniated disc, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We want to work with you to bring you the relief you deserve.

Have you suffered from an abrupt pain in your lower back or neck? Are you unsure what caused it? Do you have pain or numbness in your arm or leg? You could have a herniated disc.

A herniated disc is a common cause of back and neck pain. Many athletes suffer from disc herniation after a sports injury. However, herniated discs are common in everyone and could lead to other issues.

But what is a herniated disc? What causes this common pain? And how do you find relief from a herniated disc? Read on to find out everything you need to know about herniated disc treatment!

Table of Contents

Here is a list of quick links to jump to the different sections in this guide:

1. What is a Herniated Disc?
2. What Causes a Herniated Disc?
3. What are the Symptoms of a Herniated Disc?
4. What are the Herniated Disc Treatment Options?
5. How Do Chiropractors Perform Herniated Disc Treatment?
6. What Herniated Disc Exercises Can I Do?
7. How Do I Prevent a Herniated Disc?

What is a Herniated Disc?

At its most basic level, a herniated disc is an injury to the cushioning and connective tissue between vertebrae.

Let’s break that down a little bit to see what exactly happens with this injury.

Your spine is made up of individual bones that connect to each other via soft, cushiony discs. These discs are round with tough outer layers that surround the nucleus. So, there’s an exterior and interior part. The discs act as protection for the spinal bones.

A herniated disc occurs when the interior, or nucleus, pushes through the exterior. If it tears or ruptures the cushioned exterior, the disc herniates. If it has not yet broken through the exterior, it is known as a bulging disc.

You can suffer from disc herniation anywhere along the spine. However, it is most common in the lower back and neck.

What Causes a Herniated Disc?

Now that we’ve defined a herniated disc let’s look at what causes these injuries. Because of how common they are, the answer is a lot of things.

One of the most frequent reasons for a herniated disc is aging. It is most frequent in patients 35 to 50 years old. As you get older, parts of the spine degenerate, making it easier for the discs to rupture the exterior.

Other herniated disc causes are gaining weight and low blood circulation. If you are overweight, you have a higher chance of causing a herniated disc. Smoking or inactivity can also cause a herniated disc.

Herniated Disc in the Neck

Let’s look at herniated discs from the top down.

The top section of the spine is the cervical, also known as the neck. It contains nerves that connect to your arms, hands, and upper body. They also connect so that you can bend and twist your neck and back.

A herniated disc in the neck is a frequent reason for neck pain. If you put an unnecessary or sudden strain on the neck, it can cause a herniation. Trauma to the neck, such as whiplash, can also cause a herniated disc.

Herniated Discs in the Upper Back

The next section of your spine is the upper back, or thoracic, section. It’s the area between your neck and lower back.

Upper back disc herniation is not as common as neck or lower back herniation and has two main causes:

• Degenerative disc disease is the gradual wear and tear from aging, which can happen anywhere on the spine.
• Trauma to the upper back can result in the discs rupturing the cushion.

Sometimes, the causes will occur together. You can have degenerative disc disease without the disc herniated. However, trauma will then force the exterior to rupture.

Herniated Disc in the Lower Back

The lumbar section of the spine, or lower back, is the most targeted area for herniated discs. Most herniated disc treatments focus on that area as well.

Like the other two areas, two significant ways to herniate a disc are degeneration and trauma. However, 35 to 50-year-olds experience more herniated discs in their lower back than anywhere else.

Males are also twice as likely to suffer from a herniated disc in the lumbar section as compared to women.

Along with age and trauma, unnecessary strain or stress on the lower back causes a herniated disc.

We think of trauma as a force hitting your back, much like a football player being tackled or someone in a car accident. However, a herniated disc also occurs from physically demanding activities. Repeated pulling, pushing, and twisting actions add to the likelihood of a herniated disc.

What are the Symptoms of a Herniated Disc?

But how do you tell if you’re suffering from a herniated disc? There can be a lot of factors in determining whether you have this particular issue. Some of the symptoms include:

• Arm or leg pain
• Pain in the buttocks, thigh, and calf
• Numbness or tingling in the affected area
• Muscle weakness
• Pain that worsens while standing or sitting
• Pain when walking short distances
• Intermittent or continuous pain in the affected area
• Spasms of back muscles
• Changes in bladder or bowel function

Another symptom of a herniated disc is sciatica. Herniated discs are the most common form of sciatica. A symptom of sciatica is feeling tingling or numbness that runs from your buttocks and into your foot.

Sciatica can also be treated with chiropractic care and can give you relief from that type of pain.

What are the Herniated Disc Treatment Options?

If you have a herniated disc, then there are several treatment options available to you. However, the safest and most effective way to treat a herniated disc is through chiropractic care.

Medication

Your doctor may prescribe you medication for your herniated disc. These include over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, Tylenol or Aleve. These medications are for mild to moderate pain levels and should still be taken accordingly.

Over-the-counter medications might combat inflammation and reduce pain. However, a chiropractor can target a specific area and provide the care you need to get back to living your life.

Surgery

The surgical route is for those with absolutely severe pain levels. The surgeon will remove the portion of the disc that is poking out of the cushion but probably will not need to remove the entire disc.

However, surgery comes with risks. First, it’s still surgery, and that has the usual risks. Also, the required bed rest after surgery can disrupt your lifestyle for a while. Complications can always arise during the surgical procedure. If the surgeon needs to take out the entire disc, it could result in bone fusion.

The costs alone for chiropractic care versus surgery outweigh the risks. Spinal surgery carries a cost of anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000. Visiting a chiropractor costs far less and does not have the same risks as surgery.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care, also known as conservative care, is widely considered the best option for a herniated disc. Your chiropractor will offer you a variety of different treatment methods, as listed below.

Most experts highly recommend the non-surgical route for herniated disc treatment because the benefits are long-lasting and offer you affordable, quality care.

 

How Do Chiropractors Perform Herniated Disc Treatment?

Your ailment can be relieved with different treatment options. A chiropractor will usually prescribe you a combination of herniated disc treatment methods.

Here are some of the common chiropractic techniques for herniated disc treatment:

Cox Technic

The Cox Technic, developed over 50 years ago, is the gentle manipulation of the spine in order to reduce pain. You lay on a specialized table, and the chiropractor controls the movements.

Each movement is coordinated to bring your relief by gently “flexing” the spine. These motions are pain-free, can cause inflammation to go down and bring the spinal disc back where it needs to be.

Massage Therapy

Often used as a supplement to chiropractic care, massage therapy helps relax the muscles.

This treatment also improves your posture and increases your range of motion. With massage therapy, your spine’s adjustments will be targeted to bring you the best possible relief.

Vibration Therapy

Vibration therapy, or whole-body vibration therapy, is used to restore muscle strength. A chiropractor uses a device to send gentle vibrations through your body to restore your posture muscles, reduce pain and inflammation and increase blood circulation.

Low blood circulation is a cause of a herniated disc. Smokers, in particular, are subject to a herniated disc due to the lack of oxygen in the blood. Vibration therapy helps boost that circulation.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation is another herniated disc treatment option. You will have small electric nodes placed on your affected area. These nodes are hooked up to a battery-powered device that delivers electric pulses into the body. This technique often proves useful in reducing pain and inflammation.

Your chiropractor will most likely prescribe a combination of these herniated disc treatment techniques.

In fact, by effectively using a mixture of these techniques, patients at Algonquin Chiropractic Center see a 50% improvement within the first 2-4 weeks. Each patient is different, and their treatment is different. However, the quality of care each patient receives will get the best possible results.

What Herniated Disc Exercises Can I Do?

In addition to chiropractic care, your chiropractor may prescribe a regimen of exercises designed to reduce your pain levels and strengthen your muscles.

The exercises your chiropractor chooses for you will depend on your individual needs and abilities. All these exercises have a common goal, however.

Improve Your Posture

You’ve heard the saying, “Lift with your knees, not your back.” That’s incredibly important in warding off a herniated disc. Good posture can give you a stronger core and better spinal health.

Some of the exercises and herniated disc stretching might include ways to better your posture, especially while sitting and walking. Sitting puts more stress on your back than standing. Therefore, a correct sitting posture can alleviate pain in your back.

Furthermore, how you walk can also impact your back. Your chiropractor may have you do sitting and walking exercises to strengthen those muscles.

Strengthen Your Core

Your core muscles are in the abdomen area and contribute to poor spine health. You need your core to be strong in order to stabilize your back. A weak core, perhaps from being overweight, pulls on the muscles in your back and increases the chance of a herniated disc.

Most care for general lower back pain comes in the form of core strengthening. Again, while it may depend on your needs and abilities, the exercises and stretching will focus on strengthening that muscle group.

Exercise Your Neck

If you have a herniated disc in your cervical area, you might have to do neck exercises. These can include chin tucks and other methods that improve your neck muscles. A weak neck only adds to the likelihood of a herniated disc.

You should not attempt exercises by yourself if you think you have a herniated disc. After a consultation with a chiropractor, you will start a prescribed regimen, under the care of the doctor.

Performing exercises on your own could lead to a worsening of the symptoms.

How Do I Prevent a Herniated Disc?

Degenerative disc disease could be a result of genetics, and you may find it unavoidable. However, there are steps you can take to increase your chance of not herniating a disc. They are:

• Keep good posture
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid excessive lifting
• Quit smoking
• Eat healthily
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Check with your doctor about any sudden or abrupt pains

Because of how common it is, fighting off a herniated disc means maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While your age does play a factor in getting one, you should take these steps to prevent it.

Are You Suffering from a Herniated Disc in Algonquin?

If you’re suffering from pain, don’t let it stop you from living your best life! A herniated disc can lead to other complications later in life, so don’t put off having it checked out.

A herniated disc is a common source of pain. If you think you have a herniated disc or want to see how to prevent one, please reach out to us. Algonquin Chiropractic Center has been offering herniated disc treatment in Algonquin, IL, for more than 30 years. Don’t let the pain stop you from living a full life. Give us a call at (847) 854-2000 to make an appointment.