Greensboro Chiropractor Explains the Difference Between Slipped, Herniated and Bulging Discs

Intervertebral discs serve as the primary shock absorbing system protecting your spine, nerves, and brain from injury. Without these tough, fibrous discs preventing bony vertebrae from scraping against each other, you would suffer extreme pain and stiffness whenever you moved your spine. Composed of collagen, fluids, and proteins, discs must remain properly positioned between vertebrae to avoid causing disc disorders, nerve compression, and pain. To help reduce pain and heal damaged discs, your chiropractor offers comprehensive chiro care to reposition discs and vertebrae while improving general disc and spine health.

What is a Slipped Disc?

Slipped discs have been pushed out of position by the spine. Usually caused by age-related wear and tear, slipped discs often press against sensitive nerves, producing pain in your lower back, numbness in your arms, shoulders, and legs and back stiffness. If a slipped disc presses on your sciatic nerve, you may feel radiating pain in your hips, legs, and buttocks. Treatment for slipped discs involves your chiropractor performing a spinal adjustment to return discs to their normal positions.

What is a Herniated Disc?

If imaging tests discover a disc's central portion has ruptured, you may be diagnosed with a herniated (ruptured) disc. Herniated discs typically occur in the lower back where they press against spinal nerves exiting the spine. Disc degeneration or lifting heavy objects may force a disc to herniate. Symptoms of a herniated disc include sciatic pain, numbness/weakness in the leg and worsening of pain when you stand or walk. Sometimes, a disc in the neck may rupture, causing muscle spasms and a stiff neck. Chiro treatment for herniated discs includes spinal adjustments and spinal decompression to relieve pressure on nerves.

What is a Bulging Disc?

Intervertebral discs slipping out of their normal positions may bulge out from between vertebrae and compress spinal nerves. An ache or pain in the back, neck, arms, and shoulders that does not resolve itself could indicate a bulging disc is irritating your nervous system. Upper back pain accompanied by pain radiating into your stomach or chest area could be a thoracic bulging disc. However, nearly all bulging discs diagnosed by your Greensboro chiropractor are located in your lower back. Receiving chiro care as soon as possible for a bulging disc is important to prevent the disc from rupturing.

Call Grosman Chiropractic Clinic Today!

If you have a constant ache or pain anywhere in your back, please call Grosman Chiropractic Clinic today at (336) 292-9779 to schedule an appointment with our chiropractor. We service residents of Greensboro, Oak Ridge, Jamestown and surrounding areas.