A herniated disk, also known as a ruptured or slipped disk, is an injury to the spongy tissue that cushions the bones in the spine. The injury may appear in the neck or back — wherever the disk’s jellylike nucleus billows out through a defect in its rubbery exterior. Chiropractic care and improvements in physical conditioning offer pain relief to patients whose herniated disks put pressure on nearby nerves. Here’s a brief guide to their causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Causes

These injuries are often age-related, but excessive weight and inactivity can be contributing factors. As you grow older, disks begin to deteriorate and lose their elasticity. As they stiffen, they’re more likely to tear when you twist and bend.

Lifting heavy objects and arching can strain the disks in your lower back, causing them to rupture. Injuries, such as whiplash or a fall from a horse, can also cause a disk to slip.

Symptoms

Sharp, burning pain on one side of the body is a common symptom. You may feel pain down a leg, buttock, thigh, calf, or foot if the herniation is in your lower back.

Pain stemming from an injury in the neck is often felt in the left or right shoulder. Numbness and tingling are also typically experienced. When the pain is severe, you may have trouble walking and using your arms and hands to hold and lift objects because of muscle weakness.

How Are They Treated?

A chiropractic care professional usually diagnoses a herniated disk by performing a physical examination. Imaging diagnostics — MRIs and X-rays, for example — may be ordered to pinpoint the exact location of the injury.

Spinal adjustments and a course of physical therapy may be prescribed to relieve the pain and help you learn how to control movements without aggravating nerves and muscles. In combination with gentle strengthening exercises and over-the-counter pain medication, many patients can recover relatively quickly.

Your chiropractor may refer you to a surgeon when symptoms include loss of bowel or bladder control. Surgery to remove the protrusion may be recommended to replace the disk with an artificial one or fuse two vertebrae together to restore stability.

If you’re struggling with back or neck pain, the chiropractic care team at Cornhusker Chiropractic PC will help you find relief. They’ve been committed to the health and well-being of residents in Lincoln, NE, and the surrounding communities for over 30 years. They can offer you a range of treatments to rehabilitate herniated disks. Visit them online to learn more about the therapies they use to treat chiropractic conditions, or call (402) 466-1288 to schedule an appointment.