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It is similar to cracking your knuckles and it should not hurt.Īfter spinal manipulation, people may feel immediately better. As the discs shift, they release gas and this is the sound you are hearing. This is a hands-on technique the chiropractor will use to gently nudge the disc back into position.Īt this point you may hear popping or cracking noises. Many treatment plans begin with spinal manipulation. Sometimes chiropractors will need to take an X-ray or order an MRI as part of chiropractic care if they cannot pinpoint exactly where the issue is located.Ĭan a Chiropractor Treat a Herniated Disc?Ĭhiropractic care is effective in treating herniated discs. This will help determine which nerve, and therefore which disc is affected. Of course, a chiropractor will also take into consideration any pain you are feeling and where you are feeling it. A chiropractor will also look at the muscles and soft tissue, looking for signs of atrophy or loss of strength. This is an indication that a disc is herniated. If the nerves are not sending messages correctly, the reflexes will not react as they should. Chiropractic care encompasses the overall health of the spine, and if something else is wrong, it could cause a herniated disc.Ī chiropractor will also test your reflexes if he or she suspects a herniated disc. He or she will look at the area where the herniated disc is located, along with the entire spine. During the initial consultation, a Chester chiropractor will perform a physical exam. They do not even know about the herniated disc until it appears on an X-ray or during a consultation for chiropractic care.Ĭan a Chiropractor Diagnose a Herniated Disc?Ĭhiropractors are very familiar with herniated discs, and they know what to look for when making a diagnosis. Sometimes people with a herniated disc do not show any of these symptoms. In extreme cases, a herniated disc can cause people to stumble as they walk, or prevent them from lifting or holding anything. In other instances, herniated discs cause muscles to become weaker. Sometimes people simply have numbness or tingling in certain areas of the body. Pain is common with herniated discs, but it is not present in every case. If you move your neck, the pain could also travel down the arms or legs as the spine also moves. When the herniated disc is located in the neck, pain is typically restricted to the shoulder and arm. It is also possible that the pain could travel down to the foot. When the herniated disc is located in the lower back, the pain is felt mostly in the buttocks, thigh, and calf. This is not usually where the pain shows up, though. Most people expect to feel pain in their back, as that is the location of the disc. There are three main symptoms to look for that could indicate a problem with a herniated disc. Herniated discs most commonly occur within the lower back, although it is possible for discs in the neck to herniate, as well. When chiropractic care can treat the herniated disc, it will also act as a preventative measure safeguarding against those future issues. Even when the herniated disc is not painful, it could throw a person’s entire alignment off, resulting in other problems. In other cases, a person may suffer from a herniated disc and not even know it because it does not cause that person any discomfort.Īnyone who suspects a herniated disc should speak to a Chester chiropractor who can help. People often find herniated discs debilitating, leaving them unable to work or perform normal daily functions. Sometimes a herniated disc compresses nerves, which can make them extremely painful. Herniated discs are also sometimes called ruptured discs, or slipped discs. When that soft center tears through the hard outer shell, the disc is herniated. These discs are made up of two parts, a tough exterior and a soft center. Herniated discs are a problem with the discs located in the vertebrae of the spine.
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