Q: My primary healthcare provider recently diagnosed me with a herniated disc in the lumbar spine. They referred me to get chiropractic treatment, but I’m nervous because it’s new to me and I’m afraid of being adjusted wrong, paralyzed, etc. Can I trust chiropractic treatment to work?
A: It’s normal to be nervous about going to a chiropractic clinic.
If you’re not sure whether chiropractic is for you, there is scientific evidence that shows how chiropractic techniques like spinal manipulation/spinal adjustment and forms of manual/mechanical therapy are safe and effective for relieving pain and other musculoskeletal pain, conditions, and symptoms.
I encourage everyone to try chiropractic treatment as a non-surgical treatment option for a herniated disc.
It Is Your Decision
At the first appointment, a chiropractor will take a medical history and perform a thorough exam to determine the nature of the symptoms and their possible causes, which include a herniated disc.
Sometimes with a herniated disc, there may be no symptoms at all.
But usually a herniated disc causes:
- Back pain
- Referred pain or pain that is felt in other parts of the body like the legs, feet, etc.
- An irritated spinal nerve can cause symptoms in the legs
This can lead to neurological symptoms like:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Weakness in the legs
Once the chiropractor determines your symptoms, they may use one or several techniques to relieve the back pain and other symptoms.
Techniques used by chiropractors for disc-related problems include:
- Specific self-treatment exercises to improve motion & decrease back pain
- McKenzie method for relieving leg symptoms
- Cox technique like spinal traction using special tables
- Spinal manipulation
- Hands-on techniques that relieve pain and restore movement to the spine and body
These techniques have been proven to be very safe. There are other techniques a chiropractor can recommend for various conditions, as each has their own style and method.
A chiropractic treatment plan will also include:
- Education
- Self-management instructions
This is to teach you how to control/eliminate pain with proper posture and proper body mechanics.
Whichever treatment the chiropractor recommends, he or she will discuss it with you, including the benefits and risks.
Although the treatments listed above will most likely be a part of your treatment plan, your chiropractor will answer your questions and work with you to select a treatment that meets your specific goals and preferences.
Don’t Be Nervous A Chiropractor Monitors Treatment Progress
If symptoms do not improve within a reasonable time frame, then a chiropractor may refer the patient to other treatments to manage disc-related pain, including:
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
- Spinal injections
- Surgery
Fortunately, self-management and time can be the best treatment. Allowing the body to heal itself is the way to go. But if rest is not enough then chiropractic treatment may be just what is needed to kick in the body’s self-healing function.
If you decide to give chiropractic treatment a try, don’t be nervous, as a chiropractor will monitor progress throughout the treatment.
In any case, chiropractors are qualified to discuss the benefits and risks of other treatments, depending on the condition.
Hopefully, this article has given you the basics of chiropractic medicine and how it works so you can make the best choice for your herniated disc/s.
El Paso, TX Lower Back Pain Chiropractic Rehabilitation
Denise was sadly involved in an automobile accident. When she understood that she could not sleep or sit for lengthy periods of time without having painful symptoms, Denise found chiropractic care with Dr. Alex Jimenez in El Paso, TX. After she received therapy Denise experienced relief and she managed to take part in her actions more. As a result of the instruction and maintenance Dr. Alex Jimenez provided, Denise recovered her initial health and total wellness.
Back pain is among the most frequent health issues now, with roughly nine out of ten adults experiencing it in any given time in the course of their life, where approximately five working adults will develop it yearly. Some estimate that about 95 percent of Americans will experience back pain. Since it is also a significant contributor to disability and missed work. It’s definitely the normal cause of chronic pain. In the USA alone, acute cases trigger 40 percent of missed days off work and of back pain are the most frequent reason for doctor visits. What’s more, according to figures, back pain is the only top cause of disability.
NCBI Resources
A herniated disc is a common spinal condition that typically affects the cervical spine (neck region) or the lumbar spine (lower back), although it can occur in any part of the spine. Most often, a herniated disc happens at the L4 – L5 and the L5 – S1. This is because this portion of the spine, the lumbar region, bears the bulk of the body’s weight.
