Therapies and Treatments for a Disc Herniation
Sacro Occipital Technic®, Reflex Pain Treatment, Shockwave Therapy, Myofascial Release, Cupping
What is a Disc Herniation?
A disc herniation, also known as a slipped disc or herniated disc, occurs when the soft inner core of a spinal disc protrudes through the tough outer layer. Spinal discs are cushion-like structures located between the vertebrae of the spine, acting as shock absorbers and providing flexibility to the spine.
When a disc herniates, the inner gel-like material (nucleus pulposus) may bulge or rupture through a weakened or damaged area of the outer ring (annulus fibrosus). A common analogy is a jelly inside the donut gets squeezed out. Once it is squeezed out it doesn’t easily suck back in.
A herniated disc can put pression on nearby spinal nerves, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that may radiate into the arms or legs, depending on the location of the affected disc.
What causes a Disc Herniation?
This can result from gradual wear and tear due to aging, repetitive strain, or sudden injury. The discs are designed to handle compression well. They are not designed to handle decompression, or substantial compression, with rotation. Picking up heavy objects with a rounded back (if not conditioned for it), repetitive single arm reaching activities, and heavy leg pressing movements without good form are some examples.>
FAQs for Disc Herniation
What causes a disc herniation?
There are various factors that can lead to disc herniations. Some include age-related degeneration, sudden trauma, lifting heavy objects incorrectly, or repetitive strain.
What are the symptoms of a disc herniation?
The signs and symptoms of a disc herniation are usually significant pain in the related area, pain that radiates away from the spine. Depending upon the location of the herniation it could go down the legs (low back herniation), wrap around the ribs (thoracic herniation), travel down the arm into the hands (neck herniation). Numbness, tingling and/or weakness can accompany this pain.
How is a disc herniation diagnosed?
Understanding the diagnostic process is important. The methods to accurately diagnose a disc herniation include a thorough orthopedic and neurological examination and imaging tests (MRI). Often times you will need to get an X-Ray before an MRI to rule out other causes for your pain.
Are certain risk factors associated with disc herniations?
The short answer, yes. Age, occupation (e.g. heavy lifting, tiling), genetics, obesity, and lifestyle habits all factor into the likelihood of developing a disc herniation.
Can a disc herniation heal on its own?
It is very unlikely that a true disc herniation will heal on its own. Conservative interventions like chiropractic and physical therapy have great success rates and should be strongly considered before considering surgery
What are the treatment options for a disc herniation?
It is important to rest from activities that have been found to irritate your pain. Chiropractic and physical therapy (often in combination) have been found to be successful. Other options include medications (pain relievers, muscle relaxants), spinal injections (corticosteroids), and surgical options (discectomy, laminectomy, fusion) are reserved for severe cases.
How long does it take to recover from a disc herniation?
The recovery time depends upon the willingness to rest, how severe the disc herniation, the willingness of the patient to do prescribed physical therapy at home, and if there are any other contributors to the problem (e.g. flat foot, sacroiliac sprain). Full resolution can be accomplished in as little as 4 weeks but could take longer depending upon the items listed above.
Can exercises or physical therapy help manage a disc herniation?
Yes, however the patient participation in performing prescribed stretches and exercises at home between treatments is highly recommended for a faster resolution. Also, chiropractic has been found to be superior to physical therapy alone in avoiding use of opioids and disability due to low back pain.
Is it safe to continue exercising or engaging in physical activities with a disc herniation?
Individuals with a herniated disc may be unsure about the safety of certain activities. As a general rule, you should discontinue activities until it is properly diagnosed. Disc herniations can always become worse and when they get bad enough surgery becomes the only option. Engaging in specific exercises or stretches catered to your injury is the best way to ensure that it does not get worse.
What are the potential complications of untreated disc herniations?
Understanding the potential risks of leaving a herniated disc untreated is important for making informed decisions about seeking medical care. If left untreated you could develop permanent nerve damage, loss of function, and/or chronic pain. You would also likely end up with a surgical fusion of the vertebrae surrounding the disc. This can lead to instability of the vertebral segments above and below resulting in a possibility of needing additional surgical fusions.
