Can A Chiropractor Help With A Bulging Disc?

One of the most common causes of neck and low back pain is a spinal disc problem. Although there are home remedies that you can do to relieve its symptoms, you may still require adjunctive therapies to help you fully recover from your condition. You may consider visiting a chiropractor to help deal with chronic pain coming from a damaged or protruding disc.

So what exactly can chiropractic care do for your bulging disc pain? Chiropractic treatment is a natural and non-invasive alternative that focuses on addressing the source of your pain rather than just hiding its symptoms. It uses techniques that adjust your spine and fixes the disc protrusion to remove the pressure on the affected nerves, which ultimately reduces your pain, restores mobility, and improves your quality of life.

Is Chiropractic Treatment Effective for Disc Problems?

Not all spinal cord or disc injuries require an immediate trip to the surgery room. Depending on the frequency and severity of your pain symptoms, you may be a viable candidate for chiropractic care and treatment.

Chiropractors are trained in non-invasive and hands-on techniques that focus on improving your spine, joints, bones, tissues, and muscles as a whole. As a more conservative and alternative treatment, chiropractic care is part of your holistic recovery that allows your body to heal without any medication or invasive procedure. In some cases, it can be a part of your medical treatment plan.

When getting chiropractic treatment for spinal problems, a chiropractor will first examine the extent of your bulging disc damage. They will assess the overall health of your spine and may also conduct several tests to check your reflexes, range of motion, muscle strength or weakness, and sensation in your extremities.

If you’re generally healthy with no serious symptoms or pre-existing or advanced spinal disorders, you may be able to heal your bulging disc with a chiropractic adjustment. Patients who experience chronic shoulder pain, tension headaches, fatigue, and muscle aches can also benefit from a visit to a chiropractor.

Techniques That Chiropractors Can Use For Bulging Disc

Having a bulging disc can cause excruciating pain that can be worsened by performing certain activities. However, you don’t have to worry that visiting a chiropractor will cause more damage to your spine.

These specialists use gentle, low-force movements to move the disc protrusion from the nerve roots. Here are some of the spinal adjustment techniques that chiropractors may use to provide bulging disc pain relief:

1) Flexion Distraction Treatment

This spinal manipulation technique is used to minimize the pressure on the nerves caused by disc herniation and protrusion. It’s typically performed to help increase spinal movement and provide relief from symptoms of the leg, arm, neck, or lower back pain. It’s also used to treat other conditions like sciatica, arthritis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, or sprains and strains.

During this treatment, you will lie down on a specialized table that stretches your spine. The chiropractor will use light movements to move the bulging or herniated disc from the nerves. It can help return the protruding disc back into its original position in the spine. The movements also promote fluid circulation to keep the intervertebral disc healthy.

2) Spinal Decompression

Another effective method that chiropractors can use is non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. With this treatment, chiropractors use a traction table that gently stretches the spine to improve your back or leg pain.

This technique helps create a negative pressure that will move the bulging disc to alleviate the compression on the affected nerves and other spinal structures. It also helps improve the flow of oxygen, nutrients, and fluids which are needed by the discs to heal faster. In addition to a disc protrusion, this can also be used on patients with an injured sciatic nerve, neck pain, degenerative disc disease, and facet joint syndrome.

3) Pelvic Blocking Technique

This treatment involves using specialized cushioned wedges which are placed under both sides of your pelvis. Its goal is to naturally reposition the bulging disc away from the affected spinal nerve. This chiropractic technique is also effective for treating hip pain, back pain, and other discomforts in the body.

4) Massage Therapy

Chiropractors can also utilize different massage techniques to relieve muscle tightness that’s coming from the compressed nerves in the spinal column. They can perform a targeted, deep tissue massage on the surrounding tissues of the affected nerve to increase circulation and relieve muscle spasms and tension. It can also help bring back your flexibility and range of motion.

Understanding The Difference Between Bulging Disc and Herniated Disc

Although chiropractic care can be used to treat both bulging disc and herniated disc pain, there are distinct differences between the two conditions and it can affect how your specialist approaches your overall treatment plan.

• Bulging disc: This condition happens when the inner portion, or the nucleus, of the spinal disc, bulges out and causes pressure on the surrounding nerves.
• Herniated disc: This problem occurs when there’s a visible crack or damage to the outer cartilage of the spinal disc. This often leads to a ruptured or slipped disc where the nucleus leaks out of the disc. Unlike a disc protrusion, this is more likely to cause inflammation or irritation on the sciatic nerve roots which may result in severe pain.

The causes of herniated and bulging discs are almost the same. For one, they can happen due to natural wear and tear of the spine or disc degeneration. Other factors such as living a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, having poor posture, or being involved in an accident or injury can also cause disc protrusion and herniation.

Is It Safe To Go To A Chiropractor For Bulging Discs?

Going to a chiropractor for your bulging disc shouldn’t be a problem and it’s completely safe. Most patients who have received chiropractic care share that they’ve experienced immediate relief and comfort after their first session. To get the maximum benefits of chiropractic treatment, you can expect to have at least 4 to 12 sessions over a 6-week period.

There are also no significant side effects since the chiropractic treatment doesn’t involve any chemicals or medications. However, it’s common to have some lingering soreness, temporary discomfort, and aching since your joints, tissues, muscles, and spine were stretched and adjusted.

When Do You Need More Than Chiropractic Help?

If your symptoms are not improving with chiropractic care, you may need to consider going to a specialist for more advanced treatment. Here are some signs of a serious bulging disc problem that you shouldn’t ignore:

• You experience loss of normal bladder or bowel function
• You have a loss of sensation or numbness in your arms, hands, and lower body
• Your symptoms are interfering with your day-to-day work and activities
• You have persistent pain that radiates to your legs and gets worse when you’re seated

Other Treatments for Bulging Discs

In cases of severe bulging disc symptoms, chiropractic care may not be the first option for your treatment. Your doctor may recommend any of the following methods to help relieve your symptoms and prevent recurring pain:

• Anti-inflammatory medications – Prescription drugs and painkillers can help reduce your discomfort and inflammation in the affected nerves and spinal discs. Muscle relaxants may also be given to control spasms and relieve tension.
• Physical therapy – Aside from a chiropractor, you can also visit a physical therapist who will recommend rehabilitation exercises to minimize your pain and improve your mobility.
• Epidural steroid injections – This treatment is delivered to the surrounding area of the spinal cord and affected nerve roots to help manage pain and inflammation.
• Surgery – Surgical treatments are usually the last resort when chiropractic care and other conservative methods have not been effective for your bulging disc pain. There are various surgical procedures that may be recommended such as spinal fusion, laminotomy, microdiscectomy, and artificial disc replacement.

Get Lasting Relief From Disc Problems at New York Pain Care

Chiropractors can help you recover from your bulging disc without undergoing surgery. More than that, they can also offer relief from other kinds of bodily pain and ensure that you get better holistically.

At our New York pain management clinic, we specialize in providing non-surgical treatments that can help you get out of pain quickly and comfortably. Our team of pain management doctors can provide a diagnosis of your condition and prepare a personalized treatment plan that will enhance your quality of life. Call us today to request a consultation and learn more about our bulging or herniated disc treatment.