Do you suffer from back pain, odd shooting pains or loss of sensation in an arm or leg, or unexplained limb weakness? If so, you may have a herniated disk, an injury to one of the “cushions” between vertebrae. But this does not mean that you need surgery to correct the problem — natural techniques such as chiropractic treatment and physical therapy could be just solution for your back problem.
What do we mean when we refer to a herniated disk? You have probably also heard it called a “slipped” or “ruptured” disk. A herniated disk is not the same condition as a bulging disc, in which part of the disc protrudes intact from its normal neat alignment inside the spinal column. A disc herniation is when the outer casing of the disk tears open and the gelatinous cartilage inside the disk pushes through the opening.
This material can press against the major nerve roots branching off of the spinal cord, causing serious impairment, numbness and pain to the parts of the body served by that nerve branch. Auto accidents, work or sports injuries, and underlying spinal misalignments can all cause or aggravate disk herniation. To deal with this problem, our chiropractor, Dr. Parnell, must draw the herniated disk material back into its casing and/or relieve undue stress on the disk while it heals.
Adjustment, Decompression, and Physical Therapy for Back Pain
Have you had herniated disk treatment before? What kind?