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Disc herniations and disc bulges are very common causes of neck and back pain. When they are acute, some of the symptoms may be numbness and tingling down the arms and into the hands (when the disc issues are in the neck) and down the buttocks, legs and feet (when the disc issues are in the low back). Injuries to the discs in the low back or neck can be caused by anything from a sports injury or car accident to a simple movement or even by sneezing (as was the case with a few patients that I’ve had).
The symptoms of a disc herniation may come and go and at it’s worst, they can be even excruciating and certainly infringe upon a person’s ability to function daily at work or even disturb one’s sleep. There aren’t too many options for treatment of a disc herniation. Usually if the injury is confirmed by a MRI of the neck or low back, the first options are simple medication and/or physical therapy. If that fails, the next level of treatment would be corticosteroid injections at the level of injury, which may offer some slight but, temporary relief. Finally, if all else fails surgery is often recommended. However, as most spine surgeons will tell you, it’s often hard to predict whether or not you’ll respond to spine surgery and it should be considered only as a last resort. It may be that you do respond well to surgery however, there is the possibility that you will remain the same symptomatically, or your condition gets even worse. The research also shows, if you get more than one spinal surgery, your likelihood of ever making a full recovery diminishes.
As a practicing Chiropractic Physician, I’ve seen my fair share of disc bulges and herniations in my office. Typically, I see patients once they’ve had all the aforementioned conservative treatment (medication, injections and physical therapy) and they are still no better; when they’ve just injured their disc(s) or when they’re referred in for a second opinion. I emphasize utilizing a conservative approach of gentle chiropractic care, massage therapy and acupuncture first followed by, some physical therapy. If however, they’re not responding to that or they’ve already tried those therapies, I recommend Spinal Decompression. Spinal Decompression is a relatively new therapy that is completely conservative, drug-free and non-surgical. The purpose of the therapy is to provide a negative pressure between your vertebra at the level of your injured disc(s) to pull the herniated back into it’s normal place, allowing it to heal and relieving pressure off of the nerves in the area. The therapy usually lasts approximately, 30 minutes or so and a typical treatment protocol includes exercises and other modalities over the course of several treatments.
While spinal decompression is not for everyone, it is an excellent option for people who are seeking a conservative modality that treats their condition/discs without putting anything into their spines like an injection or pull anything out like a surgery. If you’re suffering from a disc herniation and would like another opinion or treatment option, certainly seek out an office that provides spinal decompression in your area and speak with them about getting a consultation to see if you’re a candidate for care. The results can be remarkable in many instances!
About Author About Dr. Sue Dr. Raymond Sue has been a practicing Chiropractic Physician in Seattle, WA for the last 8 years. He’s passionate about providing people with drug-free, non-surgical pain-relief solutions. You can find out more about him at www.univchiro.com.
My 3 year old dachshund was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck last Monday. He was put on Prednisone for the pain and I was told no running, jumping, or climbing stairs for 3 weeks. He is currently being weaned off of the Prednisone. Today, he is experiencing pain while walking. Is there anything that I can do for him? Is it normal for him to be experiencing pain before he gets better? What else can I expect during the next few weeks?
