If youve ever felt pain from a slipped disc, you know that even mild disc pain can be quite painful, and moderate to severe pain can be crippling, making even basic physical activity very difficult to achieve. Although the phrase slipped disc is commonly used, the truth is the disc has not actually slipped, but instead it is herniated, which means it is displaced in the center and putting pressure on nerves along your spine. Those who see Avon chiropractor Dr. David Schiller are part of a growing group of people who have found relief from the pain and debilitating effects of a mild to moderate herniated disc through chiropractic treatment.

Bulging Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the cushioning gel that separates your vertebrae is forced out of place, causing a painful bulge in the gel. Often physicians will first recommend rest and drug therapy. Injections are sometimes used and finally an operation may be recommended for a severe case. The more invasive the procedure the more dangerous it can be. The good news is that most disc problems can benefit from and be cured by chiropractic care, along with stretching and strengthening exercises.

Herniated Disc Symptoms

Some people who have a herniated disc may not have any symptoms. However, once symptoms manifest themselves, people are usually driven to seek treatment. Symptoms include:

Pain in the affected area, usually the lower lumbar region
The pain may radiate into the buttocks and/or hips
In more severe cases, pain may also run down the leg to the knee or into the ankle or foot
You may also feel numbness in areas
Weakness in leg areas and bowel, bladder and sexual functions may also be compromised.

Without treatment, the condition can worsen.

Chiropractic for Patients

Chiropractic treatment for patients around the country is safe, noninvasive and effective. Whether youre in Dallas, Miami, New York or in a town like Avon, a chiropractor can use gentle spinal manipulation to free the healing pathways of the body, relieve stress and pressure on nerves and allow the body to begin to heal naturally.

Stretching exercises can help to alleviate the stress on your back muscles and in the affected area. Eventually, exercises can help to strengthen the muscles around the disc. Depending on how severely the disc is herniated, the healing process may take a few days, weeks or months.

Herniated Disc Prevention

Prior to having to see an Avon chiropractor, people are encouraged to try preventative measures. Often some sort of life choice causes a herniated disc. These include:

Lack of movement or exercise
Poor nutritional choices
Smoking
Poor posture especially when sitting
An over-extension of the muscles in the area
Trauma to the area
Lifting an object incorrectly by using the back and not the legs
Twisting or moving incorrectly once the area is weakened

Sometimes a small movement can cause a disc to become herniated if the area is already weakened. The primary way to prevent this painful condition is to keep the region limber and strong while treating it properly by causing as little unwarranted stress as is necessary.

Be Part of the Solution

In extreme cases, when there is a major amount of compression or nerve damage, surgery may be the only real solution. However, as chiropractic patients in Avon have discovered, through education, there are many things that a person can elect to do to greatly lower their risk of suffering a herniated disc. If you do suffer from pain that may be associated with this condition seeking help immediately from a chiropractor can result in your condition stabilizing quickly and your finding relief fast.