Your chronic neck or back pain could very well be due to a herniated disc or bulging disc. Since it's not that easy to tell, our Plano chiropractor at Willow Bend Chiropractic will run several tests to pinpoint the cause. Instead of treating the symptoms, we use alternative methods to address the underlying condition. This provides lasting pain relief, improves mobility, and prevents the problem from coming back. More importantly, early treatment for disc pain can prevent back and neck surgery.
What is a Herniated Disc?
Disc herniation happens when an intervertebral disc tears, cracks, or ruptures in the neck or lower back spine. A ruptured disc is similar to a bulging disc except that the gel-like material pushes out of the disc. Pain and other symptoms can still occur if the disc bulges without tearing.
Ruptured Disc Common Causes
Disc damage is caused mainly by a gradual breakdown of the tough fibrous material that makes up the disc. Other causes include:
- Obesity
- Injury or trauma
- Prolonged poor posture
- Degenerative disc diseases
- Overuse of the neck or lower back
- Heavy lifting or lifting the wrong way
Herniated Disc Symptoms
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people in their 30's to 50's are more likely to experience herniated disc symptoms. Symptoms include dull, sharp, or disabling neck or back pain. Pain, numbness, or tingling may occur in the buttock or leg if the protruding disc presses on a nerve root or a sciatic nerve. Similar symptoms can occur in the arm, shoulder, or hand due to a herniated neck disc. Symptoms may persist, come and go, improve with rest, or grow worse with movement.
How Our Plano Chiropractor Treats Ruptured or Bulging Disc
Our chiropractor will examine you before doing an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI to confirm or rule disc problems. In the case of disc damage, we may decide to adjust the spine or perform non-surgical spinal decompression to reduce herniated disc symptoms.
Spinal adjustment is done to realign the vertebrae and move the disc away from the nerve. Meanwhile, spinal decompression involves using a distractive force technique to increase the space between the backbones and restore the disc. Both spinal adjustment and decompression therapy are drug-free ways to alleviate pain and promote healing of the disc, nerve, and spine.
We may even combine chiropractic care with pain-free soft tissue treatments to maximize relief and speed up healing. Therapies include massage therapy, MLS Laser Therapy, corrective exercises, and physiotherapy.
Chiropractic Care for Herniated Disc in Plano Texas
Willow Bend Chiropractic is a family chiropractic care center serving Plano, TX, and nearby cities. We can help you manage disc pain so you can keep on moving! Call (972) 608-4411 to book an appointment today.