Herniated Disc: Symptoms, Risk Factors, Natural Treatment

A herniated disc occurs when the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc leaks out and places pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerves. Also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, a herniated disc affects up to 20 people per 1000 adults. 

The symptoms of a herniated disc include sharp, stinging pain in the back, radiating down to the legs, along with numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. These symptoms distinguish a herniated disc from typical back pain. Risk factors for a herniated disc include wear and tear, obesity, improper lifting, or sudden injury, all of which weaken the spine’s protective discs over time.

Treatment options for herniated discs range widely. Conventional medicine often relies on pain medications like NSAIDs, steroids, and muscle relaxants, but these medications only offer temporary relief and may come with serious side effects. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, offers a holistic approach to treatment, focusing on non-invasive techniques to treat both symptoms and root causes.

Some of the chiropractic techniques used to manage herniated discs include spinal manipulation and flexion-distraction techniques. These techniques can restore spinal alignment, relieve nerve pressure, and provide long-term relief.

This article will consider in more detail what a herniated disc is, its causes, how to know if you have one, and, importantly, examine its treatment options – chiropractic and conventional. 

What Is A Herniated Disc?

A herniated disc (also known as a slipped, bulged, or ruptured disc) occurs when one or more of the discs of the spine bulges due to the gel-like substance in them leaking out. Leakage of the gel-like substance in the spine puts pressure and irritates the spinal cord and surrounding nerves, leading to different symptoms. 

Your spine consists of 24 bones, called the vertebrae, stacked on top of each other. These spine vertebrae stretch from the upper part of the neck to the tailbone, and they can clatter into each other when you walk, run, jump, or bend. The vertebrae clattering into each other is bad news to the longevity of the spine, spinal cord, and, certainly, your pain receptors. There are gel-filled round discs between these vertebrae, known as intervertebral discs, that act as a cushion or shock absorber for the spine during these everyday activities.

What Are the Symptoms of a Herniated Disc?

The symptoms of a herniated disc include burning lower back pain, often radiating down the legs, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. These herniated disc symptoms can differentiate a herniated disc from regular back pain.

The most prevalent symptom of a herniated disc is pain. The area of the pain depends on the part of the spine affected, but 95% of disc herniations occur in the lumbar area of the spine (the lower part of the spine). Therefore, the most typical symptom is low back pain. However, this low back pain is different from regular back pain in that it is stinging and burning. Also, depending on the extent of the damage, other symptoms may arise. 

Here is a list that depicts the symptoms of a herniated disc.

• Pain (burning and stinging) that may radiate to the lower part of the body, especially the legs
• Numbness or tingling, occurs when the bulged disc places pressure on nerves in the back
• Muscle weakness

What Are the Risk Factors of a Herniated Disc?

The risk factors of a herniated disc include age-related wear and tear, improper lifting, obesity, physical inactivity, and trauma. These factors can weaken the spinal discs, increasing the risk of the jelly-like nucleus of the rounded disc pushing its way out of the disc, causing herniation. 

The following are factors that may contribute to the development of a herniated disc.

• Age-related wear and tear, which weakens the disc (disc degeneration)
• Obesity or excess weight
• Improper lifting
• Traumatic events, like a sudden fall
• Smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle (physical inactivity)

Chiropractic Treatment for Herniated Disc

Chiropractic is a branch of functional medicine that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Chiropractic can help with disorders that affect the neurological, muscular, and skeletal (bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments) systems. Chiropractic is often indicated in the management of conditions that affect the back including a herniated disc. 

The relationship between chiropractic treatment and low-back pain is not a secret one at all. Chiropractic can even provide better pain relief in the short term than other common conventional treatments. 

Conventional Treatment for Herniated Discs

Conventional treatment using medications is currently the most common treatment option for the management of a herniated disc and its symptoms. Honestly, the use of medications for herniated discs in conventional medicine just follows the trend with virtually every other musculoskeletal condition. Popularity is not a guarantee of safety and efficacy, though. What’s our point?

The typical medications used in the management of a herniated disc include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs—ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac), acetaminophen (paracetamol), steroids, muscle relaxants, and opioids (morphine, tramadol). Many people turn to anti-epileptics and antidepressants if these medications do not work as well. So many options, really, which we believe is one of the reasons medications have become so common in society today.

However, that many medications can be potentially used for the management of a herniated disc does not mean all of these medications work or are sufficiently safe. There is little scientific evidence that supports the use of steroids, muscle relaxants, anti-epileptics, or antidepressants for a herniated disc. Using them may even very well worsen the body’s health considering the side effects that these medications can have

For instance, steroids can cause mood changes, sleep problems, weakness, skin problems, weight gain, heart conditions, and an increased risk of infections. Muscle relaxants can damage the liver, affect mental health, and cause dizziness, lack of coordination, and fainting. Even the medications that do work in relieving pain, like opioids and NSAIDs, can have dangerous side effects in extended use. 

How is Chiropractic Treatment of Herniated Discs Different From Conventional Treatment? 

Chiropractic treatment of herniated discs is different from conventional treatment in that it is natural and does not rely on medications. Also, chiropractic treatment focuses more on addressing conditions from their root causes rather than just treating symptoms. 

Generally, chiropractic treatments are among the safest available because they are non-invasive (do not physically enter the body) and natural, limiting the risks of side effects and complications. There will be 1 adverse effect per 2 million chiropractic manipulations, which depicts the safety of chiropractic

Also, chiropractic care effectively treats patients with a herniated disc and carries out this treatment using the principles of holistic healing. Holistic healing starts at the root of the problem. Therefore, chiropractors focus less on healing the symptoms and more on resolving what caused the symptoms in the first place. Holistic healing ensures that the treatment is long-term. 

How Is A Herniated Disc Diagnosed? 

Chiropractors diagnose herniated discs by reviewing the patient’s medical history and symptoms, physical examination, and, if necessary, imaging tests like X-rays and MRI scans. Diagnosis aims to confirm the condition and understand its severity.

The first step to the holistic treatment of a herniated disc (or any condition at that) is diagnosing the condition. Considering that a herniated disc typically presents with back pain, which can have many different potential causes, it is essential for chiropractors to be sure that the problem with the patient is actually the disc. One of the first ways they do this is by assessing the symptoms. 

A herniated disc often causes burning or stinging back pain. The pain from a herniated disc can also usually be traced to a specific event, which is a bit opposite to regular back pain that may develop over a long period without any acute cause. Also, the pain observed in a herniated disc may radiate to the bottom half of the body. 

Chiropractors also consider the medical history of the patient to get the right information that guides their judgment. Alongside symptom and medical history examination, chiropractors physically examine the patient. Physical examination involves asking the patients to do some simple activities or exercises to get an idea of both the site and the extent of damage to the disc. 

The chiropractor may need even more advanced tools for the best diagnosis. These tools are generally laboratory (usually for inflammatory markers) and imaging (X-rays, CT scans, and MRI) tests. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests are regarded as the gold standard and diagnosis is usually concluded here. 

Chiropractic Techniques for Herniated Disc Treatment 

Chiropractors use chiropractic techniques and adjustments to treat the herniated disc. Chiropractic techniques are procedures involving manipulation, mobilization, and other manual actions on the spine and affected body areas when managing health conditions. 

The chiropractor’s focus shifts totally to chiropractic treatment of the bulging lumbar disc after the herniated disc has been diagnosed and some root causes have been highlighted. Below are some of the specific techniques that help in the chiropractic management of herniated discs.

Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation is a chiropractic technique where the chiropractor uses their hands to apply a high-velocity, low-amplitude, controlled thrust to the affected joint in the spine. The spinal manipulation procedure can help realign the intervertebral discs of the spine, allowing them to return to their normal state. Spinal manipulation can potentially help resolve the issue and relieve any associated symptoms. 

More than 80% of all chiropractic treatments revolve around spinal manipulation, and for very good reasons, too. Chiropractic, at its core, is about starting treatment for a condition from its root, and this is very often the spine itself. Therefore, many chiropractors may even consider spinal manipulation for conditions that do not affect the spine or the neck. 

However, the link between the spine and a herniated disc is as direct as it gets, as the disc is a part of the spine. Even though the disc is not a joint, spinal manipulation has evidence in resulting in clinically-significant improvements of symptoms among disc herniation patients. 

Flexion Distraction Technique

Flexion distraction technique works by widening the gap between the spinous processes, creating a negative pressure in the intervertebral disc space which then allows the discs to move back inwards. The flexion distraction technique creates a gap in the spine that the protruding disc can slot back into, which can effectively solve the problem with the disc. 

Flexion distraction can very well be grouped as spinal manipulation, but we feel it is a wide enough therapy to have its own spot on this list. Accounting for more than 50% of chiropractic treatments, flexion distraction is another ever-present technique in chiropractic

Massage

Massage in chiropractic is a form of manipulation performed on the soft tissues of the body, usually to promote good health and comfort. Chiropractors generally consider massage a suitable option for the management of multiple neuromusculoskeletal disorders that involve pain as a symptom, including back pain associated with a herniated disc. 

A massage may not sound too medical, considering the number of massage centers in society today and their high commercialization. However, massage remains one of the most important techniques in a chiropractic center. 

How to Find a Chiropractor?

You can find a quality chiropractor at The Bay Clinic of Chiropractic if you live in and around Panama City. Reach us at (850) 785-9372 or through our email info@thebaydoctor.com. Dr. Tony Salameh, the lead chiropractor at The Bay Clinic of Chiropractic, has decades of experience in the management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions like back pain, knee pain, hip pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and herniated disc. 

Dr. Tony has gathered several positive reviews in this field, and he is more than willing to listen to you and draft a personalized treatment plan for the management of your herniated disc. There are plenty of benefits chiropractic can potentially offer for the management of a herniated disc. However, you need the services of experienced and expert chiropractors, such as Dr. Tony Salameh, to reap fully these safety and efficacy benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need Surgery to Treat a Herniated Disc?

You do not need surgery for a herniated disc unless your symptoms worsen or fail to improve after exhausting conservative treatment options (like chiropractic). However, you can expect faster relief from the pain in the short term if you do get surgery. The benefits of surgery over conservative treatment do not carry on in the midterm and long term, though. So, surgery will most likely still need to be followed up with conservative treatments.

Can a Herniated Disc Go Away on Its Own?

A herniated disc may heal on its own, usually within 6 months. However, this depends on a lot of factors, including the care of the disc, diet, and other lifestyle changes. Also, note that even if the herniated disc goes away without any professional intervention, the period of dealing with the condition may be marked with extreme pain and discomfort. The condition may also worsen. The best approach to managing a herniated disc remains getting professional health care. 

Can Chiropractic Care Prevent a Herniated Disc?

Yes, chiropractic care helps prevent hernia by advising patients on the risk factors for the condition and how to avoid them. Therefore, your chiropractor may advise you on weight loss strategies, the right dietary changes, proper exercise to strengthen the back, and also lifestyle tips to avoid putting pressure on the disc. The preventive care chiropractors offer is another component of the holistic healing chiropractic aims to deliver. 

Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe for a Herniated Disc?

Yes, chiropractic treatment is generally safe for treating a herniated disc, as it involves non-invasive procedures with a low risk of side effects. The low risk of health issues with chiropractic care makes it possible to use this treatment for a long time, unlike many medications. 

What Techniques Do Chiropractors Use for Herniated Discs?

Chiropractic techniques used for managing herniated discs include spinal manipulation to realign discs, flexion distraction to reduce nerve pressure, and therapeutic massage to relieve pain. These methods provide targeted relief for herniated disc symptoms. The choice of the right techniques to use depends on the individual case and the expertise of the chiropractor. 

Conclusion

A herniated disc occurs when the soft center of an intervertebral disc pushes through its outer layer. Herniated discs cause sharp, stinging pain, often radiating down the legs, along with numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness, which distinguishes it from regular back pain. Chiropractic care provides a safe, effective, and holistic solution for managing herniated discs. 

By addressing the root causes rather than just masking symptoms, chiropractic techniques like spinal manipulation and flexion distraction offer long-term relief without requiring invasive procedures or heavy reliance on medications. Do not hesitate to reach out to us at The Bay Clinic of Chiropractic at (850) 785-9372 or through our email info@thebaydoctor.com.

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