Treating a Herniated Disc Through Chiropractic Care
Herniated discs are one of the many causes of chronic back pain, and they can cause a great deal of pain and dysfunction. Below, Dr. Aljamal and the team at Back To My Health in Richardson, TX, explain how a herniated disc develops and how a chiropractor can help you find relief.
Development of Herniated Discs
Your spine has these simple yet very useful cushions between the bones called discs. They have a soft, pliable interior that is often referred to as jelly-like. The pliability allows them to provide proper support for the bones and your movements. The inner filling is wrapped in a tougher outer casing that keeps the filling in its place.
Daily habits, such as poor posture and repetitive lifting, often put too much stress on the discs, which causes the exterior casing to tear. The sudden force of incidents like car collisions can also lead to tears.
Chiropractic Treatment for Herniated Discs
When there is a tear in the casing, the inner filling sometimes escapes, and it often pushes on a nearby nerve. This can cause intense pain, tingling, numbness, or a burning sensation. The muscles and other soft tissue in the area also endure excess stress and overcompensate for the damaged disc. Herniated discs can be treated through several techniques, including those below.
- Adjustments: Adjustments restore proper alignment to the spinal bones, relieving pressure on the discs.
- Spinal decompression: Spinal decompression therapy gently stretches the spine. This removes pressure from the discs and nerves and creates negative pressure that pulls the disc, the filling, and healing nutrients to the spine.
- Laser therapy: Laser therapy can penetrate the soft tissues to relieve tension, reduce inflammation, stimulate regeneration of the tissues, and restore range of motion.
- Electrical stimulation: Electrical stimulation therapy emits small electric pulses that cause contractions in the treatment area. As these contractions occur, blood is pulled to the area, tension is relieved, and healing is stimulated.
- Therapeutic exercise: Therapeutic exercises are used to further stretch the spine, relieve tension, improve blood flow, and increase range of motion.
Find relief from herniated disc symptoms through personalized care from Dr. Aljamal and the team at Back To My Health in Richardson, TX. Call (972) 792-7500 to schedule an appointment today.