Dr. Binh Nguyen and the team at Cedar Chiropractic & Sports in Hopkinton, MA, offer personalized treatment plans to effectively relieve pain from a herniated disc.
Can a Chiropractor Really Provide Relief for a Herniated Disc?
If you’re living with a herniated disc, you are not alone. Many people are in the same boat. However, some are fortunate enough not to notice any symptoms. If you belong to the group that does notice symptoms, though, you are likely desperate for relief. Is that something a chiropractor can really provide? The answer is yes, and Dr. Nguyen and the team at Cedar Chiropractic & Sports in Hopkinton, MA, explain why below.
Understanding Herniated Discs: What They Are and How They Happen
Discs sit between your bones to provide cushion and shock absorption. Sometimes, though, the pressure is too much, and it can cause a tear in the outer layer of the disc. When this occurs, the cushioning on the inside escapes through the tear and can make its way onto surrounding nerves and muscles. Typically, this is when people notice symptoms.
If these discs are made to cushion the bones, though, why would they tear? They are designed to manage a certain amount of pressure when they are in proper form. Unfortunately, many things can impact this.
Discs can wear down over time. Additionally, there might be something preventing the discs from being replenished properly, causing them to dry out, in a sense. When such issues occur, the discs are simply not as plump – and therefore, as cushioning – as they need to be.
At other times, accidents, such as auto or sports accidents, can cause a sudden increase in pressure that the discs are not prepared to sustain. For others, it is due to lifestyle factors like the following:
- Being overweight, which causes additional pressure
- Repetitive lifting or twisting
- Poor posture
- Slips and falls
- Standing or walking for prolonged periods
- Spinal misalignment
How Can a Chiropractor Help?
Chiropractors specialize in restoring spinal health. In the case of a herniated disc, this typically includes using the following methods:
- Adjustments to restore alignment
- Spinal decompression therapy to gently stretch the spine, create a vacuum effect that pulls the disc filling back into place and “plump” the disc back up, and relieve pressure from the nerves
- Therapeutic exercise to strengthen the spine and relieve tension
- Lifestyle guidance to address the factors that contributed to the injury
Find relief from your herniated disc by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Nguyen at Cedar Chiropractic & Sports serving Hopkinton, Holliston, Milford, Westborough, Upton, and Southborough, MA, at (508) 435-8182.