Ann Arbor Chiropractor and Ypsilanti Chiropractor Can Help Herniated Discs

It’s a scary term that is often associated with back surgery. However, your Ann Arbor chiropractor and Ypsilanti chiropractor can provide non-surgical relief for herniated discs. The sooner you schedule an appointment, the better. If you let herniated disc issues progress, they might become more difficult to treat. 

Herniated Disc Anatomy

A herniated disc occurs when you get tears in the thick fibers of the outermost layer of your disc. The inner layer that is more gel-like will protrude through this herniation. This compresses on the nerves that come out from between the bones of the spine. A disc herniation can cause pain and discomfort that can turn into pain down the leg. If your herniation is severe, it can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness down the legs as well. 

Causes of Disc Herniations 

Disc herniations can either be acute or chronic. Acute disc herniations often happen due to a ballistic injury like a car accident or a lifting injury. Improper form when performing deadlifts puts you at a greater risk of a disc herniation. Sometimes these issues start from something as simple as bending down to pick up the laundry or tie your shoes.

Chronic disc herniations don’t always have an event you can point to that caused your pain. It happens from normal wear and tear and degeneration of your disks overtime. This often is caused by lifestyle factors or genetic factors. 

Signs and Symptoms

One of the most common symptoms of a disc herniation is pain. This pain is often intense and continuous. The pain will increase when you’re baring down like to defecate. Laughing, coughing, and sneezing can all increase this pain. Often you have pain on one side of your body. Because of the pressure of your nerve roots, a herniation can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain that shoots down your backside, even to your feet. If you have a herniated disc in your neck, you can have numbness, tingling, weakness and pain that shoots down your arm into your fingers. It is truly a miserable experience that makes everything difficult. 

How Chiropractors Can Help

When you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek out immediate medical attention, especially if you are experiencing numbness or weakness. Your Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti chiropractor will perform a thorough exam to pinpoint the cause of your pain. If you do have a disc herniation your chiropractor will help you using a combination of at home exercises, adjusting, and electrical stimulation. All of these modalities should help you with your pain and discomfort and improve any other symptoms like numbness and weakness that you’re experiencing. Call our expert team at Collective Culture Health and Chiropractic today if you or your loved one is experiencing any of these issues.