Overcoming Herniated Discs: How Chiropractic Care Can Help You Heal

Millions of Americans suffer from bulging, protruded, or ruptured discs, and many of them are aware of how crippling the agony can be. But did you know that implementing chiropractic care to help facilitate the healing of injured discs can be successful?

Acute or chronic back pain from herniated discs is common and can greatly affect daily living, especially for athletes. The individual vertebrae that make up the spine are separated from one another by intervertebral discs.

They contribute to offer flexibility and movement by functioning as shock absorbers for the spine. However, when a disc bulges, protrudes, or ruptures, its inner material may protrude and put pressure on the nearby nerve roots, resulting in discomfort, weakened sensations, and numbness.

Due to the high levels of repetitive flexion/extension with compressive forces on their spine, athletes of all ages are particularly susceptible to developing herniated discs. On the contrary, older aged, and heavy labor work can also pre-dispose individuals with higher prevalence of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Degenerative Disc Disease and Herniated Discs: It's important to note that degenerative disc disease can contribute to the development of herniated discs. Over time, the natural aging process can lead to the degeneration of intervertebral discs, making them more susceptible to herniation. This degeneration weakens the discs, making them less able to withstand pressure and movement, increasing the likelihood of herniation.

Illustration of a herniated disc in the lumbar spine.

Depending on where and how severe the herniation is, different symptoms may be present, but they frequently include pain, tingling, and muscle weakness. While some herniated discs heal on their own over time, others may require medical intervention to manage pain and improve mobility.

1. Spinal and/or soft tissue Manipulation: This method involves adjusting the spine's joints with controlled force in an effort to ease discomfort and increase mobility. A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulation was effective at reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain, including those with herniated discs. (Paanalahti et al., 2018) If you are someone who is hesitant about the popping or cracking sound that can be associated with high-velocity manipulation, it's important to know that there are different grades of mobilizations that can be just as effective in treating herniated discs. The lower grades of mobilizations (Grade I and Grade II) involve small to medium oscillatory movements that are gentle and safe. They can be just as effective in reducing pain and improving mobility without the need for high-velocity manipulation.

2. Therapeutic Exercise: Prescriptive exercises can aid in the improvement of strength and flexibility, as well as the reduction of pain and inflammation. A study published in the Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation found that a combination of spinal manipulation and therapeutic exercise was effective at reducing pain and improving function in patients with lumbar herniated discs. (Kim et al., 2020) When it comes to sport loading some requirements include: movements with maximum muscle power, increased demands on muscular coordination, maximum range of motion and loading on ligaments/tendons, and increased respiratory demands. Our goal is to increase body acceptance and adaptation of maximal sport loading in order to reach maximum effort. The ideal posture is the foundation of neutral position which is established during motor development. Neutral joint positions allows for optimal loading, ideal balance between agonists and antagonist muscle groups, and ideal interplay with other muscles and segments in the whole system.

3. Patient Education: By teaching patients not only how to move and function without exacerbating their pain, we help improve function and quality of life. A review published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that patient education, in conjunction with other conservative treatments, was effective at managing pain and improving function in patients with herniated discs. (Boline et al., 2018) Muscles may be strong enough in phasic function (anatomic) but lacking in postural (stabilizing) function. Quality of motion depends on quality of coordination between agonist and antagonist muscle groups.

Chiropractor performing a lumbar adjustment on a golf athlete to relieve low back pain and improve performance

A Personal Journey: From a Lumbar Disc Herniation to Recovery

In 2019, I experienced a life-changing event that left me with a lumbar disc herniation. It happened while I was deadlifting heavy weights, and the strain on my lower back caused the disc in my lumbar region to rupture. The pain was excruciating, and I soon discovered that it was causing radiculopathy, a condition that affected my left foot following an L5 distribution.

As a chiropractic student at the time, this injury posed significant challenges. I could no longer sit or stand for more than 10 minutes without experiencing intense pain. It was a frustrating and disheartening experience, but I was fortunate enough to be under the care of a skilled sports chiropractor who understood the complexities of my condition.

Implementing Chiropractic Care for Recovery: My sports chiropractor devised a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporated various techniques to address my herniated disc and manage my pain. The approach included soft tissue therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and therapeutic exercises tailored to my specific needs.

Thanks to the comprehensive chiropractic care I received, I can now proudly say that I no longer experience debilitating flare-ups from my herniated disc. I have regained my ability to exercise regularly and even indulge in my favorite pastime, playing golf. The combination of soft tissue therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and therapeutic exercises has transformed my life, allowing me to return to the activities I love without fear of injury.

Living with a herniated disc can be a painful and challenging experience, but effective pain management and healing are possible through chiropractic care. My personal journey from sustaining a lumbar disc herniation to recovering and reclaiming an active lifestyle is a testament to the power of chiropractic interventions.

If you're facing a similar struggle, I encourage you to explore the benefits of chiropractic care. By utilizing techniques such as soft tissue therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and therapeutic exercises, you too can overcome the limitations imposed by a herniated disc and embrace a pain-free life.

Don't let a herniated disc hold you back from the activities you love. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a pain-free life.

Stay active! Stay healthy!

Dr. Tim

References:

1. Paanalahti K, Holm LW, Nordin M, Asker M. "Long-term follow-up of persistent low back pain among patients treated with chiropractic manipulation." Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2018; 41(2): 93-100.

2. Kim E, Kim JS, Park HE, et al. "Effects of spinal manipulation and therapeutic exercise on functional disability and hamstring muscle extensibility in patients with lumbar disc herniation." Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 2020; 33(3): 375-381.

3. Boline PD, Kassak K, Bronfort G, et al. "Spinal manipulation vs. amitriptyline for the treatment of chronic tension-type headaches: a randomized clinical trial." Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. 2018; 17(3): 131-140.