Slipped Disc Treatment

Chiropractic Health and Wellness Clinic provides chiropractic treatment for a slipped disc without the use of drugs and surgery.

Dr David Liew’s prowess in diagnosis enables him to produce a personalised treatment plan to deliver pain relief as quickly as possible. As well as helping you to resume a normal life, this approach also lowers the cost of your treatment.

The spinal column comprises a series of bones called vertebrae that are protected by discs that cushion pressure from everyday activities such as walking or lifting objects. A disc has two components: a soft inner portion and a robust outer ring.

Slipped disc occurs when the inner part protrudes through the outer.

A slipped disc isn’t only painful in itself, it can also affect other parts of the body if it compresses a spinal nerve.

Although discs don’t physically slip, the term is often used – even by medics – to refer to:

• Bulging discs (generally 10% protrusion)
• Prolapsed discs (20 – 30% protrusion)
• Herniated discs (40% protrusion or more)

Bulging discs

Bulging discs typically occur in the lower back, when a deteriorated or weakened disc swells through a gap in the spine but doesn’t tear open.

Symptoms of a bulging disc aren’t usually apparent until it causes other problems such as pressure on nearby nerves. However, you may experience pain in the back, neck, shoulders, arms, or hands.

Causes of a bulging disc include:

• Degenerative disc disease as we get older.
• Wear and tear.
• Injury.
• Bad posture.

Without treatment, a bulging disc may eventually become herniated.

Prolapsed discs

Like a bulging disc, a prolapsed disc may go unnoticed until it becomes herniated, and displaced tissue presses against nerves, muscles, or ligaments.

Causes of a prolapsed disc include:

• Lack of exercise
• Obesity
• Trauma
• Malnutrition

Symptoms of a prolapsed disc – such as pain radiating into the legs – generally worsen without treatment and complications can develop quickly. Discs in the lower back are particularly susceptible to prolapse.

Herniated discs

A disc becomes herniated (or ruptured) when soft tissue of the inner layer pushes through a tear in the tougher exterior.

Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine, from neck to lower back, although they’re more common in the lower spine.

The spinal column is a complex system, and a slipped disk can put extra pressure on the surrounding muscles and nerves.

A herniated disc may not be painful itself but the material leaking out of it can irritate nerves, causing sharp, shooting pains that radiate to other areas of the body.

A ruptured disc in the low back can result in leg pain, while a herniated disc in the neck can cause pain in the arm.

The likelihood of getting a herniated disc increases as we get older, as the spinal discs lose their elasticity, becoming more vulnerable to damage.

Other causes of a ruptured disc are:

• Sport activities.
• Incorrect lifting techniques.
• Physical trauma, such as a fall or traffic accident.
• Poor posture.
• Obesity.

Herniated disc symptoms are likely to range from:

• Stiff back.
• Pain, tingling or numbness in the arm or neck.
• Pain in the buttocks, leg or foot.
• Weakness in arm and leg muscles.

Ignoring a herniated disc can lead to more serious complications, depending on your age and overall health as well as the location and severity of the problem. In most cases, a ruptured disc won’t heal itself, and over time will get worse, causing possibly severe health issues.

Natural therapies for a slipped disc

Natural, non-drug remedies for a slipped disc (bulging disc treatment, prolapsed disc treatment, and herniated disc treatment) include:

• Exercise alternating with rest.
• Yoga.
• Acupuncture.
• Cold and heat therapy.
• Physiotherapy.
• Herbal remedies.
• Chiropractic care.

Chiropractic treatment for slipped disc

By providing proper chiropractic care, Dr David Liew can help ease your pain, give you back a full range of mobility, and help you to avoid future disc problems by creating a customised treatment plan to help you reduce or eliminate risk factors.

A common chiropractic technique for a slipped disc is gentle spinal traction. This generally utilises a special table to facilitate low-velocity, variable-amplitude movements by your chiropractor. These flex the spine and stretch muscles to widen the spaces between the bones in your back.

If you have a slipped disc in your neck, Dr David Liew may apply a technique called cervical distraction to ease pressure on nerve roots.

These techniques encourage your body to produce an anti-inflammatory agent that will alleviate pain and boost your body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Your treatment will also involve advice on what you can do to help your back to stay healthy in the future such as exercises to strengthen your spine and possible changes to your diet.