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Herniated Disc
What is Herniated Disc?
A herniated disc refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (discs) between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack up to make your spine. A spinal disc is a little like a jelly donut, with a softer center encased within a tougher exterior. Sometimes called a slipped disc or a ruptured disc, a herniated disc occurs when some of the softer “jelly” pushes out through a crack in the tougher exterior.
Allow our Strelcheck chiropractors in Crystal Lake to utilize their chiropractic expertise in order to rid you of your herniated disc pains by contacting us today.
Many people who have a herniated disc are not aware of it because they have no symptoms of leg or back pain. Symptoms that do appear vary greatly, depending on the position of the herniated disc. If the herniated disc is:
- Not pressing on a nerve, there may be a low backache or no symptoms at all
- Pressing on a nerve, pain or numbness can occur in the area of the body leading from the nerve
- Located in the neck, pain or numbness may be felt in the shoulders, arms or chest
- Located in the lower back, sciatica may occur and cause leg pain and other nerve-related symptoms, such as weakness, numbness or tingling in one leg. Pain from a herniated disc in the lower back (sciatica) may be felt in the buttock and down the back of the leg to the ankle or foot. There may be low back pain, but it is usually not as severe as leg pain
Disc herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called disc degeneration. As you age, your spinal disks lose some of their water content. That makes them less flexible and more prone to tearing or rupturing with even a minor strain or twist.
Most people can’t pinpoint the exact cause of their herniated disc. Sometimes, using your back muscles instead of your leg and thigh muscles to lift large, heavy objects can lead to a herniated disc, as can twisting and turning while lifting. Rarely, a traumatic event such as a fall or a blow to the back can cause a herniated disc.
While lower back pain is extremely common, the symptoms and severity of lower back pain vary greatly. This is why at Strelcheck chiropractic we begin by performing a comprehensive physical and orthopedic exam to pinpoint the sources of your low back pain. Treatment may include a number of different therapeutic modalities that will be tailored to you depending on your diagnosis. Some of these modalities include chiropractic adjustments, exercise, physical therapy, massage therapy, manual traction and ultra sound.
