The pain from a herniated disc can be excruciating. It may be tempting to jump right into surgery if your doctor offers it, but spinal manipulation and other treatments from a car accident chiropractor at County Line Chiropractic may be a better, cheaper, and safer option.

Here’s what you need to know about herniated discs and your treatment options.

What Is a Herniated Disc?

Discs are cushions between each of your vertebrae. They have a soft, jellylike center (nucleus) surrounded by a tougher, rubbery exterior (annulus). Also called a ruptured or “slipped” disc, a herniated disc is when a tear in the annulus causes some of the nucleus to push out, often putting pressure on nearby nerves and causing pain that may shoot into an arm or a leg, depending on the location of the herniated disc.

Herniated Disc in Neck Symptoms

Symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck are often only on one side of the body and may include:

• Weakness
• Tingling or numbness
• Arm and shoulder pain that may be burning or sharp and may shoot into your arm when you sneeze, cough, or change position

Herniated Disc in Back Symptoms

The symptoms of a herniated disc in the back may only be felt on one side of the body and can include:

• Numbness or tingling
• Weakness
• Thigh, calf, and butt pain that may shoot down your leg when you cough or sneeze and may feel sharp or burning

Herniated Disc Treatment

Treatment for a herniated disc varies depending on how bad your pain is and how long you have been in pain. Usually, conservative treatment is enough to relieve symptoms within a few days or weeks.

Medication for Herniated Disc

Often, medication is the first treatment for a herniated disc, especially if you see a medical doctor before visiting a chiropractor. There are a few different types of medications to relieve the pain from a herniated disc, each with its own risks of side effects:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers like naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Muscle relaxers
• Opioids
• Cortisone injections

Spinal Manipulation for a Herniated Disc

In some cases, spinal manipulation can help relieve pressure on a herniated disc and eliminate the need for surgery. Since a herniated disc isn’t actually “slipped” out of place, spinal manipulation isn’t about popping a disc back into place. Instead, it helps shift your vertebrae into a better alignment, which can reduce pressure on herniated discs and help relieve pain caused by that pressure.

Herniated Disc Surgery

When nothing else helps, there are several different types of herniated disc surgery that may help relieve your pain. Surgery comes with risks, so it’s best to wait until after you’ve tried everything else before resorting to surgery.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care not only has the potential to help your herniated disc pain, but it has many other potential benefits, too, including:

• More affordable than many other types of treatment
• Fewer risks than surgery or opioids
• Non-invasive
• Improved posture
• Holistic
• Reduced back or neck pain
• Treats the root cause of pain rather than masking it
• Possible reduction of osteoarthritis symptoms
• Relief from some types of chronic headache
• High satisfaction levels from treatment

Types of Herniated Disc Treatments Included in Chiropractic Care

At County Line Chiropractic in South Florida, our chiropractors employ a variety of treatments to help with herniated discs and other injuries, especially those caused by car accidents. Our services include:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Ultrasound
• Physical therapy
• Electrical muscle stimulation
• Kinesio taping

South Florida Chiropractic Care for a Herniated Disc

If you’re looking for relief from the pain of a “slipped disc,” make an appointment at County Line Chiropractic. When you come in, your first appointment will look something like this:

• You will tell the chiropractor about your medical history and symptoms.
• Your doctor will perform a physical exam and may order an x-ray, MRI, or other imaging to get a better look at what’s going on in your back or neck.
• The chiropractor will diagnose your herniated disk or other causes of your pain.
• The doctor may do a spinal adjustment or other treatments.
• You’ll go home with a complete treatment plan that may include more spinal adjustments, physical therapy, or other treatments for natural, drug-free pain relief.

Schedule an Appointment

If you’re struggling with the pain from a herniated disc, come to County Line Chiropractic Medical & Rehab Center to see if we can help before you resort to surgery. We have six locations across South Florida, in Lauderhill, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, North Miami Beach, East Fort Lauderdale, and Miami Gardens. While it’s better to make an appointment with our Accident Recovery Team, we do accept walk-ins.

If your herniated disc was caused by a car accident and you don’t have a vehicle now as a result, we offer transportation services to our car accident patients.

Click here or call (800) 811-1231 to schedule an appointment today!

Herniated Disc FAQs

1. Is a Slipped Disc the Same Thing as a Herniated Disc?

While “slipped disc” is a common term many people use to refer to a herniated disc, it isn’t really accurate since the disc is ruptured; it hasn’t moved out of place. As a result, chiropractic care does not “pop” the disc into place. The sound is caused by the popping of air pockets in your joints. But yes, “slipped disc” and “herniated disc” mean the same thing.

2. Do Chiropractors Fix Herniated Discs?

Spinal manipulation can shift your vertebrae back into alignment and reduce some of the pressure on the herniated disc, relieving your pain. Chiropractic care may help prevent your “slipped disc” from getting worse and can reduce your pain so that you don’t need to get surgery to fix the disc.

3. Is Surgery the Best Option for a Herniated Disc?

Not necessarily. Often, spinal manipulation and other chiropractic techniques can treat a herniated disc without the need for surgery. Severely slipped discs may require surgery, but it’s definitely worth trying chiropractic care first to hopefully avoid the risk, cost, and inconvenience of surgery.

4. Can a Herniated Disc Get Better Without Surgery?

Chiropractic care can alleviate and treat the pain associated with many slipped discs. With spinal manipulation and other chiropractic techniques, you may not need surgery.