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Herniated discs are painful and potentially dangerous. Understanding what they are, their symptoms, and potential causes are a crucial part of herniated disc treatment. You may not be able to prevent a herniated disc. But, with the information in the rest of this article, you will be able to diagnose and treat it effectively.
Most importantly, we need to define a herniated disc. Herniated discs are also occasionally called bulged, slipped, or ruptured discs. It occurs when the center, or nucleus, of a spinal disc, pushes out through the tough exterior (called the annulus). The nucleus can push through the annulus because of a tear in that rubbery outer layer.
Herniated discs can be caused by a number of things. Most often they occur because of the aging process. The older someone gets, the more prone they are to herniated discs. Additionally, herniated discs can be caused by car accidents or other traumatic events.
How do you know if you have a herniated disc? There are a few symptoms that are common with this condition. These symptoms occur because of nerve irritation due to the herniated disc. They include
It is possible to have a herniated disc and experience no symptoms. If the damaged disc does not irritate a nerve, then you will not have symptoms. In these cases, a herniated disc can only be diagnosed by a spinal image.
There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments for herniated discs. Starting with non-surgical treatments is standard. A great and often effective non-surgical treatment for herniated discs is spinal decompression.
During spinal decompression, the spinal segments are stretched. The stretching creates space around the herniated disc, which allows healing nutrients to flood the area. At Southside Chiropractic Car Injury Clinic, our spinal decompression sessions last 15-20 minutes. They consist of three to five minutes cycles of decompression.
Spinal decompression has been shown to reduce or alleviate pain and treat spinal disc issues. We use a computerized table in our spinal decompression treatments. The patient will lie on the table fully clothed and wearing a harness. The harness is connected to the computer, which gently opens and stretches the spine. The patient lays in a comfortable position the entire time.
There are some big advantages of spinal decompression treatment for herniated discs. First, the treatment is mostly painless. Some patients even enjoy the way it feels. Second, there is no recovery time. And third, no expensive and potentially damaging surgeries are required.
If you are struggling with a herniated disc, contact Southside Chiropractic today. We are happy to explain more about the spinal decompression process and how it can help treat your herniated disc.