HERNIATED / BULGING DISC
Bulging disc, herniated disc, slipped disc… Whatever you call it – it can be painful! Lucky for you, the experienced and knowledgeable team here at Better Backs – Better Living is here to help. Let’s first explain what a bulging disc is.
Small discs cushion the bones (vertebrae) that form the spine. These discs are round and flat, with an outer layer (annulus) that surrounds a jellylike material called the nucleus. These discs are in between each vertebrae and act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones.
A bulging disc doesn’t always affect the entire perimeter of a disc, but they can affect anywhere from a quarter to half the disc’s circumference.
A herniated disc, on the other hand, results when a crack in the outer layer of the disc allows some of the softer inner cartilage to protrude out of the disc.
Causes
Bulging discs can be caused by a single excessive strain or disc injury. For many people, lifting heavy objects with poor form, or biting off more than they can chew can be the culprit.
Disc material can degenerate over time. This happens when mobility is limited, poor posture becomes a habit, repetitive strain occurs or simply because of the natural ageing process. Meanwhile, as disc degeneration progresses, a relatively minor strain or twisting movement can cause a disc to become injured.
Disc Symptoms
Your Chiropractor here at Better Backs – Better Living will perform a detailed examination, taking into account your health history. They’ll assess your orthopaedic, neurological and spinal systems to determine the exact cause of your back discomfort. Other tests including x-rays and digital scanning may also be recommended. If it’s something not provided here at our Parramatta clinic, we’ll direct you to the right professional to organise these scans.
Lumbar spine (lower back) Sciatica frequently results from a herniated / bulging disc in the lower back. Pressure on one or several nerves that contribute to the sciatic nerve may cause pain. Meanwhile, burning, tingling, pins and needles and numbness may radiate from the buttock into the leg and sometimes into the foot. Usually this affects one side (left or right), with many patients describing their symptoms as “sharp” and “electric shock-like”. It may be more severe with standing, walking or sitting. Alongside the leg pain, patients may or may not experience low back pain.
Cervical spine (neck): Symptoms may include dull or sharp pain in the neck or between the shoulder blades. This pain can radiate down the arm to the hand or fingers, while numbness or tingling in the shoulder or arm can also occur. Alongside this, the pain and symptoms may increase with certain positions or movements of the neck.
Treatment
Our approach is a Non – Surgical Approach using Spinal Decompression Therapy. During your spinal decompression therapy, we’ll first utilise a state-of-the-art decompression table. This table uses computerised sensors to perform stretching actions on the spine and promote healing. The treatment is gentle, with some patients describing the treatment as “relieving”.
Spinal Decompression Treatment is not offered at all chiropractic clinics and we’re proud to offer it to our patients here at Better Backs – Better Living in Parramatta.