How Chiropractic Can Help Herniated Discs

With the exception of the first two vertebrae in the neck, there is an intervertebral disc between each vertebra of the spine. Discs act as a shock absorber and a shock distributor, and provide flexibility.Imagine if you jump up and down. What would happen to the stack of bony vertebrae that make up the spine without the cushioning and support of these discs? Now, move your back from side to side. Again, you can visualize the give and take of the discs between the vertebrae. Your discs are made up of the annulus fibrosus (the tough outer layer) and the nucleus pulposus (which contains a soft, gelatin-like center). When cracks occur in the outer layer of the disc, the material inside of the disc can begin to push out or herniate.I’m sure we’ve all known someone who has suffered from a herniated disc. Numerous factors can cause a disc to herniate. For example, there may be too much stress on the disc due to poor posture or from being overweight. A herniated disc can be caused by a combination of factors or a physical injury. There are different severities of bulging or herniated discs — some are more problematic than others. Not everyone with a bulging disc experiences pain or even any noticeable symptoms, although many do. In fact, it’s now understood that many people with bulging herniated discs function without any pain and aren’t even aware of the problem.If you’ve visited a doctor about a painful bulging disc, you might have been given medications, such as over-the-counter painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers or steroids to help control your symptoms. While these might work in the short term to keep you more comfortable, they won’t target the underlying cause of the bulging disc or prevent another one from forming. Regular chiropractic visits can help prevent herniated discs and can help treat them once they have happened.A chiropractor can help determine the type of bulging disc you are suffering from, and help you pinpoint some of the underlying causes. After diagnosis, a chiropractor might perform targeted adjustments to help realign the spinal discs and prevent protrusion into the spinal canal. The exact type of adjustments performed depends on what the findings are after an x-ray and initial physical exam.We might make adjustments that include flexion-distraction, muscle stimulation, physiotherapy, supplementation, and at-home stretches, exercises or treatments. Chiropractic adjustments have been well-researched for treating symptoms of bulging discs, including sciatic nerve pain, stiff neck and chronic lower back pain. A study published in the Official Journal of the North American Spinal Society found that chiropractic adjustments helped adults with sciatic nerve pain feel less local pain, have fewer number of days with pain, and fewer cases of moderate or severe pain compared to people who didn’t receive adjustments.In addition to regular chiropractic visits, staying active can help prevent herniated discs. People who remain active into older age tend to experience less fragility, loss of mobility, injuries and inflammation. Sitting for prolonged periods of time can cause bulging discs and back pain to become even worse, because staying inactive weakens muscles and puts more pressure on the spine, especially if you’re overweight.Performing weight-bearing exercises (especially those that build strength in the lower back), doing light exercises in a pool, performing simple bodyweight exercises, cycling and swimming are all good choices for injured or older people who might not be able to do more than light activities. These are low-impact forms of exercise and customizable depending on your fitness level. Stretching and lengthening the spine are also beneficial. Stretching can help develop good posture while reducing inflexibility, stiffness, inflammation and pain.