4 Treatment Methods We Use at Rush Chiropractic
Herniated discs affect about 1 to 3 percent of the population, but just because they’re common doesn’t mean they should not be taken seriously. Not only are herniated and bulging discs often painful, but when left untreated, they can also lead to more serious concerns like chronic pain, nerve damage, and pain in other parts of the body.
Fortunately, an experienced chiropractor can treat a herniated or bulging disc in order to reduce your pain, speed up the healing process and prevent future complications, all without requiring surgery. And at Rush Chiropractic, we offer a wide variety of treatments that can stand alone or work together to give you the best outcomes possible.
If you’re experiencing back pain, tingling, muscle spasms, or pain or weakness in your arms and legs, you may have a herniated or bulging disc. Don’t wait to reach out to a trusted Pembroke Pines chiropractor for help. If you choose Rush Chiropractic for your herniated disc treatment, here’s an overview of what you can expect.
Common Causes of Herniated and Bulging Discs
Herniated and bulging discs happen when one of the soft discs that sit between the spine’s vertebrae rupture or slip out of place. The disc may then push on nearby nerves, causing back pain, numbness, tingling, and pain that radiates throughout the body. These injuries most commonly happen in the lower back (lumbar spine), but they can also occur in the neck (cervical spine).
Herniated and bulging discs are two distinct injuries, but they’re typically grouped together because they affect the same part of the spine and can cause similar symptoms. With a herniation, the disc typically ruptures, and some of the soft insides start to leak out. When a disc bulges, it doesn’t necessarily break open, but rather gets compressed or flattened and pushes out further into the spinal canal as a result.
In both cases, the disc can irritate surrounding nerves, which creates most of the pain and other symptoms.
Herniated and bulging discs can occur through a traumatic injury, gradual wear and tear, or a combination of both factors.
Car accidents, serious falls, or injuries from lifting a heavy object improperly may cause a disc to rupture. In other cases, the disc’s tough outer layer may wear down over time, causing the inner layer to push through, or causing the disc to flatten and extend too far into the spinal canal.
The Benefits of Visiting a Chiropractor
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for herniated and bulging discs, and often a combination of treatments is most effective. That’s why visiting a great chiropractor is often the best option for treating these painful injuries. At Rush Chiropractic, we work with you to develop a tailored treatment plan that can help decrease your pain, restore your mobility, and protect yourself against future injuries.
Additionally, we are extremely prudent about using x-rays, unlike some other chiropractors and medical professionals. We don’t take full spine x-rays, because they’re not useful for diagnosis and require a large amount of radiation. And when we do need to use x-rays, we try to limit them to front and side views rather than taking extra angles that increase your exposure to radiation.
Our team is also very experienced at diagnosing back injuries, so we can get to the root of the problem much more easily than other doctors who may want to manage your symptoms with medication rather than resolving the core issue that’s causing your pain. A proper diagnosis is especially important with herniated discs, because they don’t show up on x-rays and their symptoms sometimes mimic other back injuries, so you need an expert who knows what to look for.
4 Treatment Methods for Herniated and Bulging Discs
- Spinal Decompression Therapy
This treatment is ideal for discs that have slipped out of place, because it uses a traction table or other motorized device to gently stretch and straighten the spine. By increasing space between the vertebrae, it gives the disc an opportunity to slide naturally back into place. Spinal decompression therapy also increases blood flow to the area, which can promote faster healing, and it realigns the joints so your mobility can improve.
- Chiropractic Adjustment
With chiropractic adjustment or spinal manipulation, a chiropractor manually applies controlled force on the affected area. This helps to restore your mobility, which in turn reduces inflammation and allows the injury to heal more quickly. It also takes some of the pressure off of the nerves in your back, which can significantly decrease your pain levels.
- Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is not just about relaxation, it’s also a valuable tool for reducing the pain you may feel from injuries like a herniated disc. An experienced professional like Dr. Rush can use massage techniques to help treat your injury and encourage the body to heal itself more quickly and naturally. This service works particularly well in conjunction with other treatment methods.
- Electrical Muscle Stimulation
With electrical muscle stimulation, we send mild electrical pulses directly into the injured area of your back. This helps loosen tight muscles, provides pain relief, and speeds up the healing process.
Visit Rush Chiropractic to Start Feeling Well Again
People often wait to get treatment for back pain because they hope that it will go away if they ignore it long enough. In some cases, back injuries may heal with time, but in others, putting off treatment can lead to more serious complications in the future.
If you believe you may be suffering from a herniated or bulging disc, don’t wait to contact a professional. Not only can our team at Rush Chiropractic help you feel better much faster, but we can also rule out other serious conditions like arthritis or spinal stenosis.
Give us a call today at (954)432-5006 to schedule a consultation and start your journey to healing.
Dr. Rush is a 1994 graduate of the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Sports Science and Wellness.
Dr. Rush earned his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree at Life University in 2000 where he was honored with magna cum laude. Dr. Rush was born and raised in South Florida where he returned after graduation. He currently practices in Pembroke Pines, Florida where he owns and operates Rush Chiropractic and Rehab at Pembroke Pines FL.
