fbpx
diagram of budging disks on back
6 June 2022

Disc Herniation & Bulging Discs – What You Need to Know

A bulging disc, also known as a herniated disc, can cause pain in your arms and legs, numbness in different areas of the body, weakness, or pain in the back or neck. Disc herniation, also known as “slipped disc” and “ruptured disk”, is when the soft inner of the spinal disc bursts through its tougher outer.

These spinal discs are a cushion between the vertebrae of the spine. Each spinal disc is covered by a hard exterior and has a soft inner. The spine discs hold the bones together and allow the spine to move freely.

You may feel general pain, numbness, or tingling in different parts of your body, especially the arm, feet, shoulders, and legs. A disc herniation could be a possibility. Clarendon Chiropractic offers a variety of treatment options and chiropractors to treat disc herniation. We can help with every situation.

What Causes Disc Herniation?

Two common causes of disc herniation are excessive strain, direct injury to the spinal disc, or natural degeneration of spinal disc material with age. A herniated disk can occur when there is direct injury to the disc. This could be from sports injuries, car accidents, slips and falls, or other injuries. Although spinal discs can absorb some impact, there are many injuries and impacts that are too severe for them to handle. This results in a herniated disk.

The second case is where disc herniation is primarily caused by old age. The disc material between the vertebrae weakens as people age. The more fragile the disc material between the vertebrae, the more likely it is that minor impacts, strain, or twisting movements can cause the disc to burst.

Disc Herniation Symptoms

Individuals will experience different symptoms depending on their individual situation, how severe the injury is, and where it occurred. The severity of the injury and the size of the disc herniation can have an impact on the intensity, type, frequency, or extent of symptoms. These are the most common symptoms associated with disc herniation.

  • Pain in the arm and/or foot, ankle, shoulder, elbow, shoulders, hips, buttocks, thighs, and/or calves
  • Feelings of general numbness and tingling in various parts of the body
  • A weakness or weakness that affects a specific part of the body, which makes it difficult to lift objects. This can lead to increased stumbling and unbalanced walking.
  • Similar sensations to the pain you might feel in other parts of your body
  • Lower back pain
  • A dull or sharp sensation in the neck, between the shoulder blades, or on the site of the herniation

Diagnose Disc Herniation

A chiropractor or functional medicine doctor will conduct a physical exam to examine different parts of the body in order to determine if there are any problems. This includes reflexes, muscle strength, and walking ability. Also, the ability to detect vibration and light touch.

To get a precise picture of your spine, you may need to have specialized imaging tests, such as x-rays (computerized tomography), MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), or electromyograms (to check electrical impulses in nerve tissue).

When Should I See a Doctor?

You should immediately make an appointment at your Clarendon Chiropractic Functional Medicine Clinic if you experience severe back pain, stabbing, or chronic pain. If the pain in your neck or back radiates to the arm or legs, or if there is general weakness, tingling, and/or numbness, you should seek medical attention immediately.

How to Treat Disc Herniation

To connect with a skilled healthcare professional and specialist in disc herniation, contact Clarendon Chiropractic. We will assess the extent of your disc herniation and then discuss the options. Clarendon Chiropractic has a number of specialists who can help you find the right treatment for your disc herniation. Additional treatment may be required depending on the severity of your symptoms. This could include pain medication, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxers as well as cortisone injections. For more information or to make an appointment to diagnose and treat disc herniation, please contact us.

 

Read Our Reviews!

Posted by ccadmin

0 Comments

Add Your Comments

Call Now Button