Chiropractic Care for Herniated Disc

Chiropractic Care for Herniated Disc

Discs do not actually "slip". Rather, they may herniate or bulge outward. A herniation is a displaced fragment of the center part of the disc.

What is a Herniated Disc?

Discs do not actually "slip".  Rather, they may herniate or bulge outward.  A herniation is a displaced fragment of the center part of the disc.

You may have heard the term "slipped disc" used to describe a low back injury.  Discs do not actually "slip".  Rather, they may herniate or bulge out from between the bones.  A herniation is a displaced fragment of the center part or nucleus of the disc that is pushed through a tear in the outer layer or annulus of the disc.  Pain results when irritating substances are released from this tear and also if the fragment touches or compresses a nearby nerve.  Disc herniation has some similarities to degenerative disc disease and discs that herniate are often in an early stage of degeneration.  Herniated discs are common in the low back or lumbar spine.

What Causes Discs to Herniate?

Many factors decrease the strength and resiliency of the disc and increase the risk of disc herniation.  Life style choices such as smoking, lack of regular exercise, and inadequate nutrition contribute to poor disc health.  Poor posture, daily wear and tear, injury or trauma, and incorrect lifting or twisting further stress the disc. If the disc is already weakened, it may herniate with a single movement or strain such as coughing or bending to pick up a pencil.

How do I Know if I Have a Disc Herniation?

Herniated discs are most likely to affect people between the ages of 30 and 40.  Disc herniations may be present without causing pain.  The most common symptom will be pain in the area of the herniation that may radiate across the hips or into the buttocks.  You may also experience numbness or pain radiating down your leg to the ankle or foot.  If the herniation is large enough, you may notice weakness with extension of your big toe and you may be unable to walk on your toes or heels.  In severe cases of lumbar disc herniation, you may experience changes in your bowel or bladder function and may have difficulty with sexual function.

How is a Disc Herniation Treated?

Mild to moderate disc herniations can usually be treated conservatively with stretching, exercise therapy and chiropractic care.  More advanced cases will often require some form of spinal decompression, such as traction or mechanical decompression, in conjunction with chiropractic care.

Occasionally, a herniation may be severe enough to warrant surgical intervention.  These cases are usually reserved as a last resort when other forms of therapy have failed to relieve pain, or if there is significant compression of the spinal cord or nerves.

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I have been going to Williamsburg Chiropractic for two months. It is clear that the doctors at this practice are dedicated to helping their patients feel the best that they can. I love that the intake process includes taking x-rays, as it provided me with a clear picture of my structural imbalances and helps me understand more deeply how the adjustments are helping to realign my spine. There are also incremental body scan check-ins which reveal the progress my nervous system is making as a result of the adjustments over time. The office is also very efficient with wait times. Highly recommend!

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Williamsburg Chiropractic is a quality practice all around.The front desk staff are always kind and responsive, Dr. Hoffman & Dr. Thomas are informative and consistently demonstrate expertise in their field, and I've never had a single billing issue (even while using my medical insurance plan).I highly recommend scheduling an appointment with Williamsburg Chiropractic if you're experiencing any pain or discomfort - no matter the severity - as they may be able to help!

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I suffered from a pinched nerve from my neck running down my arm for 3 months. It stopped me from working out which I had been doing daily. Went to a physical therapist for 2 of the 3 months. Did acupuncture regularly. Visited a neurologist. I did not want to take any medication to get rid of the pain, but nothing was working. Until I found Williamsburg Chiropractic.After very thorough examination and 1 week of treatment, we had established the reason for my pinched nerve and the pain had reduced by 60%. 2 weeks after that the pain was completely gone and I am now back to my routine of lifting heavy weights. BIG BIG thank you to the amazing people at Williamsburg Chiropractic. I am forever grateful and VERY HIGHLY recommend them to anyone suffering from any sort of body aches.

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I tweaked my back weightlifting, and it was pretty painful to say the least. Within one session with Dr. Hoffman, I was in significantly less pain, and in two sessions in two days I was near back to normal. If you're debating a holistic route to pain, this is a great place to start. They x-ray you so they know exactly what they're working with and are very patient with explaining everything going on with your body. Would recommend!

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