Lower back pain caused by disc conditions come in many shapes and sizes. Common examples include bulging discs, herniated discs, degenerative discs, and torn discs. The bottom line: Your disc is injured, usually 'torn,' and can be very painful.
These conditions, unfortunately, are all too common in our Chiropractic office. Disc pain is one of, if not, the leading cause of debilitating pain and loss of activities of daily living. Lost time from work, unable to complete chores around the house, lift and play with your children, exercise, and more...all because, as you may have learned, everything you do involves your back.
There are numerous causes of lower back pain and injury, but they all all tend to share a common element—trauma and/or cumulative trauma. For instance….”I just lifted something and my back went out," or, “I just put on my socks and felt excruciating pain in my back.” While that may have been the final event, something weakened your disc over time, leading the disc to failure. Many times this is accompanied by a pinched nerve that travels down the leg, also known as sciatica.
When it comes to disc injuries, chiropractic care is the first line of help for millions. In fact, disc conditions should be treated conservatively (chiropractic care) before ever considering back surgery. With chiropractic care, the goal is to reduce pain, improve the healing of the disc, align the vertebra around the disc, restore normal function, and strengthen the muscles supporting the area.
When you seek the care of the Advanced Chiropractic Associates Team, you can expect the following:
- Consultation. You may be surprised, but just based on what we learn during your consultation we can normally establish a clear diagnosis.
- Orthopedic and Neurologic Testing.
- X-ray. This helps Dr. Parson determine spinal misalignments, pathology, and whether it is safe to adjust the area. This also helps to determine your treatment plan and expected results.
Only a few of our cases will ever need surgery, and we know when to refer to Orthopedists or Neurosurgeons. Some cases require coordinated medical and Chiropractic care, and if necessary, diagnostics (MRI, CT, etc.). However, with proper care and patience, our office is proud of our success rate with bulging disc, herniated disc, and especially degenerative (arthritic) disc.
Treatments may consist of spinal manipulation (gentle and non-painful), traction (disc decompression), therapies for pain such as ultrasound, low level laser, and e-stimulation. It may be necessary to apply TENs units to help control the pain. Proper nutritional counseling, because bad foods can make the problem worse. The correct supplements have been shown to help speed disc healing. And when the time comes, proper and safe exercise will be prescribed.
Make Chiropractic your first choice, not your last chance!
