Cause and Symptoms of Herniated Discs
Back, leg or neck pain is common from a slipped or herniated disc. A disc becomes herniated when the center part of the nucleus puts pressure on the outer part of the disc. The disc is pushed near the spinal canal and more pressure is put on the nerves. Since these nerves are sensitive to a small amount of pressure, it can result in numbness or pain in the legs. The most common type of symptom for a herniated disc in the lower back is sciatic, a sharp shooting pain that starts in the buttocks and extends down the leg. Sometimes herniated disc can lead to neck pain because pressure is placed on nerves between the shoulders and the neck. Shooting pain can occur down the arms which can lead to headaches near the back of the head.
Treatment
Nonsurgical treatment is the most effective method of treating herniated discs. In fact, almost 90% of patients who choose non-surgical treatment will see positive results. Patients can try over the counter medication or more natural treatment such as acupuncture because it is a safe alternative to prescription drugs and surgery. Acupuncture therapy is a natural solution with no negative side effects and is viewed as an effective treatment for many patients. If the herniated disc is the main source of pain, the patient will need several acupuncture treatment sessions over a period of time to provide any kind of permanent pain relief. What acupuncture can do for a herniated disc is temporarily relieve pain and decrease the amount of discomfort one may feel.
Chiropractic Care for Herniated Disc
Another type of treatment is chiropractic care, which may or may not be effective, depending on the patient. Chiropractors believe that back pain and tenderness is caused by restricted movement in the spine. Spinal manipulation is a technique that restores mobility in the spine and is targeted for lower back pain relief. Some types of spinal manipulation will help relieve pain from a herniated disc, but in some cases it may not help at all. If a patient chooses to receive chiropractic treatment, the physician will ask them about their pain and examine the spine. These questions help determine what kind of spinal manipulation the patient will need. During a spinal manipulation treatment, the physician will apply pressure along the spine, causing a cracking or popping noise to occur. This is a painless process that may or may not provide pain relief for patients with a herniated disc.
Find out more about slipped discs and chiro care.
