Wondering if a chiropractor can help with a herniated disc? When considering treatment options for any condition, and specifically bulging or herniated discs, I recommend you try the least invasive and least expensive options first.

Are you suffering from back pain and wondering if you should see a chiropractor for your bulging disc?

If you need immediate pain relief for your herniated disc, schedule an appointment here, or message (435) 668-2033 to see about Dr. Gina’s earliest availability.

Many people just assume that having a herniated disc immediately means surgery. This is absolutely not the case. In fact, your bulging disc may not even be the cause of your pain.

Our bodies degenerate over time, whether from old injuries, repetitive movements, gradual wear and tear, genetic predispositions, etc. Many times disc bulges and disc herniations are found on MRIs of people who aren’t even having back pain.

Can a Chiropractor Diagnose a Herniated Disc?

In most cases a herniated disc can be functionally diagnosed with a medical history and a physical exam. MRI will confirm definitively, but unless you are considering surgery, or are having severe neurological issues, the expense of an MRI is unnecessary. Your chiropractor can usually diagnose a herniated disc.

Can a Chiropractor Hurt a Herniated Disc?

There are incompetent providers within any field, and chiropractic is no exception. The good news is that contrary to myth, chiropractic care doesn’t worsen herniated discs. This study showed that the outcomes for patients with herniated discs were about the same for chiropractors and primary care doctors.

If your outcomes are the same with your chiropractor and your regular doctor, then chiropractic treatment for herniated disc is the frugal, drug-free route. Chiropractic also wins out in my opinion, because it actually addresses the root of the problem.

You may have a chiropractor that isn’t also incorporating active care; is over treating; or is ineffective or non-specific in his/her adjustments. If this is the case, there’s a good chance your herniated disc won’t get better. It might even get worse. According to the study in the European Spine Journal, without proper care, it was going to anyway.

When you see a chiropractor for bulging disc, keep in mind that the conditions that created the problem have often been brewing for a long time. Deconditioned core muscles, bad posture, demanding job, etc. Getting you back to strong and pain free, takes time and teamwork.

That being said, you should see at least some improvement along the way. If, after 3 or 4 chiropractic adjustments you aren’t seeing improvement, it might be time to look for a different provider.

Remember, though, this is teamwork. Don’t blame it on your chiro if you aren’t doing your exercises, or you still watch TV in bed in that posture that you know is horrible for you.

The Best Chiropractic Treatments for Herniated Disc

The best chiropractic treatments for herniated disc incorporate:

• Increasing the disc space (Traction, decompression, flexion distraction, etc.)

• Aligning the joint (Chiropractic Adjustment)

• Retraining the surrounding musculature (Exercises)

• Correcting/avoiding problematic situations (Posture, lifting technique, imbalanced activities, etc.)

Things You Can Try Before Seeing a Chiropractor for Your Bulging Disc

Whether or not your pain is from a disc bulge or a disc herniation, there is almost always something you’re doing (or not doing) on a daily basis that’s contributing to your back pain.

Are you watching TV slouched in bed? Are you lazy with your lifting technique? Do you have too much of an ego at the gym?

If you pay attention to your posture, your core strength, your lifting and leaning techniques, most of the causes of back pain will disappear.

And here’s a fun cycle; doing those things is what is going to prevent you from developing disc bulges or disc herniations in the future as well.

So Should You Go See a Chiropractor for a Bulging Disc?

Whether or not you have a herniated disc or a bulging disc, there are a few basics that have to happen to get you out of pain.

1. The muscles surrounding the joints need to have a chance to relax and stop spasming.

2. The joints need to be gliding smoothly past one another, so that they function properly.

3. The inflammation that makes everything painful must be addressed.

Chiropractic treatment for herniated disc addresses all of these.

One of the least invasive, least expensive, and most effective ways to relieve pain from disc bulges and disc herniations is chiropractic care.

 

Even a minorly invasive surgery is going to cost thousands of dollars and have permanent scar tissue as a result.

If a cheaper, non-invasive approach exists, wouldn’t you like to start there?

Chiropractic adjustments for herniated discs help everything to move properly.

Imagine putting WD40 on a rusty hinge. It takes so much less work to move everything when things are gliding smoothly.

Also, there’s less wear and tear on the joints when things are moving like they should. Imagine the creaky sound of that hinge happening inside your misaligned body.

 

So, if you are experiencing pain from disc bulging or disc herniation

Schedule an appointment with Dr Gina, your South Jordan chiropractor, today. Together we can address your immediate pain with chiropractic adjustment, do some detective work to figure out what’s going on, and make a plan for how to prevent back pain, disc bulging and disc herniation in the future.