The most effective non-surgical method of managing a herniated disc is chiropractic care. Numerous patients across the globe seek chiropractic treatment for aches induced by a slipped disc. According to reports, there is a growing trend of chiropractic care in US adults. The lifetime prevalence of patients seeking chiropractic care (majorly for back and neck pain) was 24%. The numbers continue to rise because of the therapeutic advantages of chiropractic treatment.
Chiropractic Strategies for Disc Protrusions
A protruded or bulging disc exerts unnatural pressure on the nearby nerves. This nerve impingement can lead to the development of symptoms in the area innervated by the nerve. The most common issues encountered with a disc slip include:
- Radiating pain (especially back pain radiating from the buttocks/lower back to the feet)
- Burning
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
Depending on the area, a slipped disc can present with symptoms like neck pain and lower back pain. The cervical (neck) and lumbar vertebrae are most prone to injury and protrusions.
Chiropractors are trained professionals who can relieve your debilitating symptoms. There are various techniques that a chiropractor adopts to help cut down the pain and agony. The highly effective techniques to realign a bulging disc include:
Spinal Decompression
This involves applying gentle forces on the mispositioned vertebrae. This particular treatment type significantly lowers pain and other symptoms. Therefore, it is considered a suitable option for conservative management of lumbar disc herniation.
Flexion-distraction technique
In addition to the conventional manual adjustment, chiropractors also perform specialized therapies for disc protrusions. Performed on a specialized table, the flexion-distraction technique involves gentle stretching i.e., distraction of the spine. The chiropractor flexes the spine in a rhythmic motion. This technique also improves the disc height. Studies conclude flexion-distraction to be a viable non-surgical treatment option for disc slip patients. Most individuals readily accept the treatment option and report significant improvements in symptoms.
Ultrasound Therapy
The introduction of ultrasound waves into the body produces heat which is capable of healing skeletomuscular disorders. Many chiropractors combine different therapies to achieve superior results. Ultrasound therapy and short-wave diathermy (heat application) help improve symptoms of disc bulging.
Laser Therapy
The field of therapeutic lasers is continually evolving. Therefore, now we have medical lasers for different medical conditions. The use of lasers in spinal disorders has shown promising results. According to a 2020 study, high-intensity laser therapy is highly effective in controlling lumbar disc herniation pain.
Other potent non-surgical disc herniation strategies include:
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Dry needling
- McKenzie exercises
Disc Herniation Treatment at The Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic
The Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic offers multiple treatment options to manage disc protrusions under one roof. If your radicular pain is proving to be debilitating, visit the Legacy clinic and get your health back!
Conclusion
A disc herniation can be a debilitating disorder. Numerous patients avoid surgery and prefer non-surgical approaches. Chiropractic treatment is a safe, efficacious, and highly effective mode of healing for disc herniations. Most chiropractors use a combination of different techniques like spinal decompression, flexion-distraction, ultrasound, laser therapy, etc to obtain better results. Clinical studies advocate the use of these strategies in the symptomatic management of cervical/lumbar disc herniations.
References
- Adams, J., Peng, W., Cramer, H., Sundberg, T., Moore, C., Amorin-Woods, L., … & Lauche, R. (2017). The prevalence, patterns, and predictors of chiropractic use among US adults: Results from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. Spine, 42(23), 1810-1816.
- Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P. B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International journal of clinical practice, 2022(1), 6343837.
- Kruse, R. A., White, B. A., & Gudavalli, S. (2019). Management of Lumbar Radiculopathy Associated With an Extruded L4-L5 Spondylolytic Spondylolisthesis Using Flexion-Distraction Manipulation: A Case Study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 18(4), 311-316.
- Ozen, S., Guzel, S., Senlikci, H. B., Cosar, S. N. S., & Selcuk, E. S. (2023). Efficacy of ultrasound versus short wave diathermy in the treatment of chronic low back pain in patients with lumbar disk herniation: a prospective randomized control study. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 15(1), 157.
- Huang, Y., & Gao, D. (2020). The effectiveness of high intensity laser therapy in the patients with lumbar disc herniation: A protocol of randomized placebo-controlled trial. Medicine, 99(41), e22520.
A therapist will secure a belt around your hips which attaches to a machine. This machine will then pull the belt (and your lower spine) to a set amount of pressure. The machine will hold at that pressure for 45 seconds after which, it will release to half the pressure allowing your muscles to relax. The amount of pressure will be gradually increased to achieve the maximum results for each individual.
on either side of your neck. This will slowly pull your neck to a set amount of pressure and hold for 30 seconds then release to half the pressure for 15 seconds. The goal of either decompression is to allow the discs to heal and retain the natural curvature that supports your body.