Dealing With A Disc Injury

Herniated discs may sound like a mysterious ailment, but the pain and suffering they cause is all too evident. When one of the flexible, cartilage-encased discs that cushions your vertebrae ruptures, it’s inner material can protrude onto sensitive nerve roots, causing a wide range of symptoms, even as the rupture itself causes debilitating pain. When you have a herniated disc, the resulting pain, muscle weakness and other symptoms may render you unable to enjoy your favorite activities or even provide for your family. At times like these, you need immediate relief, but you don't have to deal with major surgery or potentially-addictive painkillers to get it -- not when My Family Chiro in St George can provide safe, effective natural treatment alternatives.

The terms "herniated discs," "ruptured discs," slipped discs" and bulging discs" are sometimes used interchangeably, but they really shouldn't be. A bulging or slipped disc is one that has shifted out of its position to impinge on neighboring nerve tissues. The impingement from a herniated or ruptured disc actually comes from the gelatinous inner material that emerges from it. This inner core is called the nucleus pulposus, and it gives the disc its ability to cushion the vertebrae against the countless jolts and bumps the spinal column must withstand on a daily basis. This material is contained by a tough outer container of cartilage called the annulus. When an injury or chronic stress from a spinal problem causes the annulus to tear, you have a herniated disc. Depending on which nerve roots are pinched by the spilled nucleus pulposus, you may experience:

• Back or neck pain (including pain originating from the damaged annulus itself)
• Leg or arm pain
• Tingling, numbness or other odd sensations in an extremity
• Muscle spasms, weakness or loss of muscular control

Herniated discs can be caused by a high-impact trauma such as sports or automobile accident injury, age-related spinal degeneration, improper lifting/twisting or the extra stress caused by obesity. Spinal misalignments can aid and abet these underlying causes.

Schedule an Appointment with our St George Chiropractor
Our St George chiropractor at My Family Chiro, Dr. Tom Johnson, can provide immediate treatment, drug-free treatment for herniated discs. One of the most helpful techniques for this problem is non-surgical spinal decompression. Small but effective amounts of distraction force creates vacuum pressure in the spinal column that pulls the nucelus pulposus away from nerve tissue. Spinal decompression also gives the discs more room to regain their former height while drawing water and other healing nutrients into them.

Manual chiropractic adjustment may also be indicated if you have a misalignment that makes you prone to herniated discs. Straightening your spinal balance evens out your weight distribution for more normal spinal function. We may also prescribe exercises to help you strengthen the muscles supporting your spine. If you want to heal those herniated discs and enjoy life again, call for an appointment with our St George chiropractor!