Bulging Discs: Chiropractic is the Answer
Do you have a bulging disc that’s causing you back pain strong enough to interfere with your job, family life or normal day-to-day activities? Feeling afraid that you’ll never be able to get your pain under control for good and that it might just continue to worsen as you get older? You’re not alone. Many people with a bulging or herniated disc feel confused, frustrated and worried about their condition. In the general population, about 1 percent to 2 percent of all people are believed to have a somewhat serious bulging disc. If you have a bulging disc you will feel radiating pain that is coming from somewhere else in the body, like the kidneys, numbness and weakness. The older you get, the likelier you are to develop disc problems because over the years spinal discs lose their structure, elasticity, lubricating fluid and become more brittle.
The good news is that there is healing through chiropractic care! A chiropractor can help determine the type of bulging disc you’re suffering from, plus help you pinpoint some of the underlying causes. After diagnosis, a chiropractor will perform targeted adjustments to help realign the spinal discs and prevent protrusion into the spinal canal. The exact type of adjustments performed depends on what the chiropractor finds during a physical exam. Adjustments can include flexion-distraction, muscle stimulation, physiotherapy, supplementation, and at-home stretches, exercises or treatments. Chiropractic adjustments have been well-researched for treating symptoms of bulging discs, including sciatic nerve pain, stiff neck and chronic lower back pain. A study published in the Official Journal of the North American Spinal Society found that chiropractic adjustments helped adults with sciatic nerve pain feel less local pain, have fewer number of days with pain, and fewer cases of moderate or severe pain compared to people who didn’t receive adjustments.
If you can’t make it in for a chiropractic adjustment try to incorporate a better routine for promoting proper posture. Hopefully you won’t spend many hours a day sitting down behind a desk, but if you do, it’s even more important that you take time to focus on good posture, stretch frequently and get up and move around. Take breaks every 20–30 minutes to avoid sitting for many hours while working at a desk or sitting down watching TV. Incorporate targeted posture exercises into your day to loosen up tight areas (like your lower back, neck and hamstrings), and retrain yourself how to sit, walk or drive with proper posture. While working, consider using a supportive ergonomic chair that supports correct back posture. During your leisure time, try to do specific stretches or light isometric exercises that strengthen your spine and core, stretch your legs, and loosen up your shoulders and neck.
Before you look towards surgery and medications give chiropractic and non invasive methods a try!
