Treating a Herniated Disc
A herniated disc can derail your plans. They can cause a great deal of pain and suffering, making daily life nearly unbearable. Fortunately, our team at Cape Coral Family Chiropractic can help.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
Your body is supported by several vertebrae, which keep you upright, moving, and carrying out your daily tasks. Each vertebra is essential to your health and quality of life. However, if that was all that was there, your bones would consistently rub against one another, leading to pain, fractures, and more.
Each vertebra has a squishy, gel-like disc between them. The disc looks something like a doughnut. These discs provide a cushion between the bones and absorb the shock your body goes through. Unfortunately, these discs can come out of their proper place at times, causing what is called a herniated disc. When this occurs, you can suffer from a wide range of symptoms. Some of these include:
- Numbness and pain, often in the arms or legs and down one side of your body
- Muscle weakness
- Pain that worsens after sitting or standing, when performing certain moves, or walking
- Burning or tingling sensations in the area of the herniated disc
The specific symptoms vary between patients. Some don’t feel much, while others seem to live in pain.
Herniated Disc Causes
In most cases, an injury will cause a spinal misalignment, which will lead to a herniation. However, there are other potential causes. Constantly lifting heavy objects, such as at work, can lead to a herniated disc. Other causes include being too sedentary or overweight, aging, and poor posture.
Treating Herniated Discs
The good news is that herniated discs are treatable. One of the most effective treatments is a spinal adjustment. Through an adjustment, any misalignment in the spine is addressed, allowing the herniation to be corrected.
Spinal decompression is another common treatment option. This is a procedure in which the spine is gently stretched, creating space between each vertebra and creating a sort of vacuum to pull the disc herniation back into place. Depending on the cause of your herniated disc, other recommendations may be made. These will often include diet and exercise, lifestyle adjustments, therapeutic exercises, and more.
Get Rid of Herniated Disc Pain with Our Chiropractors in Cape Coral, FL
If you are ready to stop suffering from your herniated disc, contact Cape Coral Family Chiropractic for a comprehensive exam and customized treatment plan. Call our team today at (239) 574-8000.