Common Facts About Disc Herniation | Herniated Disc Doctors New Albany

Herniated Disc FAQ: Chiropractor in New Albany, IN for Non-Surgical Treatment of a Herniated Disc

At 1st Choice Health & Wellness Chiropractic, our staff has met hundreds of clients from Indiana and Kentucky who are struggling with pain and dysfunction related to a herniated disc. This common condition doesn't always cause symptoms, but when it does, the impairments can be debilitating and extremely painful. 

We're happy to answer your questions about this condition and are proud to provide a wide range of services that can alleviate symptoms and heal an injured disc, as well. Please contact our clinic to set up an appointment with our New Albany herniated disc doctor. Here are

Bulging Disc, Herniated Disc, Slipped Disc—What's the Difference? 

You have intervertebral discs located all throughout your spine sandwiched in between your vertebral bones. These discs provide essential shock absorption and also help to improve mobility within the spinal column itself. 

Spinal discs are covered with a fibrous outer layer of tissue known as the annulus fibrosis. Inside the disc is a soft gel-like material known as the nucleus pulposus. A herniated disc occurs when the outer fibrous layer ruptures, allowing the inner material to leak out. This can release chemicals that irritate nearby nerves and cause back pain and muscle spasms at the level of the injury. Additionally, a ruptured disc can compress spinal nerve roots, leading to pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling in the arm or leg innervated by that nerve.

In contrast, a bulging disc occurs when the disc protrudes out of alignment but does not rupture and leak. Depending on the extent of the bulge, this type of disc injury can also lead to similar symptoms like the ones seen with a herniated disc. Our New Albany chiropractor can provide bulging disc treatment in New Albany IN that can alleviate any of these symptoms.

As for a slipped disc, this one's a bit of a misnomer. This word is often used interchangeably with a bulging disc or a herniated disc, but it's not really its own separate condition.  

What Causes a Herniated Disc? 

The old saying "the straw that broke the camel's back" often rings true when it comes to a herniated disc. That is, often a disc will rupture after the cumulative effect of repetitive damage which slowly degrades and weakens the disc over time. In other cases, a herniated disc can occur suddenly, usually as a result of sudden trauma such as an auto accident, slip or fall, or sports injury. If you are dealing with any pain or discomfort from this condition, please visit our office for herniated disc treatment in New Albany IN.

You may be more at risk for sustaining a herniated disc if you:

• Are overweight
• Have a family history or genetic predisposition to herniated discs
• Smoke
• Frequently perform heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, twisting, or bending in the spine
• Sit too much
• Use poor body mechanics while lifting or sitting

Non-Surgical Treatment for a Herniated Disc In New Albany: What Are My Options?

In some cases, a herniated disc can heal on its own over time. However, waiting for a disc injury to heal puts you at risk for chronic inflammation and sustained damage to nearby spinal nerve roots. For this reason, chiropractors are valuable to people dealing with herniated discs. They can provide non-surgical and drug-free treatments that alleviate symptoms and address underlying factors (such as core weakness, poor body mechanics, and poor posture) which exacerbate your condition. 

Chiropractic treatments also help to heal an injured disc and help a patient modify preventable risk factors so that recurring problems can be avoided.

At our clinics, we offer a variety of non-surgical treatments for people living with herniated discs. Such treatments include:

• Spinal decompression: a non-surgical way to create a "negative pressure" environment around the disc, which helps the inner gel material to retract back into place and attracts healing fluids to the injured area; decompression also alleviates pressure on spinal nerve roots and can provide near-immediate back pain relief
• Physical Therapy: including corrective exercises to increase core stability and non-invasive modalities to reduce pain, including electrical stimulation, cryotherapy, and ultrasound
• Chiropractic Adjustments: to correct postural imbalances, realign spinal joints, and effectively reduce pressure on injured nerves and discs

Are Your Symptoms Caused by a Herniated Disc In New Albany? Contact 1st Choice Health & Wellness for Surgery-Free Pain Relief 

To connect with an experienced New Albany herniated disc doctor near you who won't expose you to harmful drugs or invasive procedures, contact 1st Choice Health & Wellness Chiropractic.