Few things are more frustrating than dealing with a bad back. Unfortunately, I found myself in that situation a few months back after I sprained my back lifting my baby. It was absolutely debilitating, but I knew that I was going to have to live with it. I kept trying to clean my house, look after my kids, and handle my daily chores, but the pain just kept getting worse. Fortunately, a friend of mine recommended a great chiropractor that could help. He adjusted my back and things started to get better. This blog is all about the benefits of working with a professional.
Herniated discs can cause a lot of pain. There's usually a dull, aching pain that persists no matter what you are doing, plus a sharper and more noticeable pain that appears when you move a certain way. While there are several ways to treat and manage herniated discs, one of the best approaches is to see a chiropractor. The following are three different techniques they may use, depending on your specific case, to treat your herniated disc and encourage healing.
Flexion-Distraction
The flexion distraction technique is one that chiropractors use to treat a wide variety of conditions. Basically, you will be asked to lie down on a table that bends slightly downward, essentially stretching your spine. In doing so, it creates more space between each of your vertebrae and intervertebral discs. The chiropractor will then use their hands to flex your spine back and forth in the area surrounding the herniated disc. This back-and-forth, flexing movement helps spread the vertebrae in that area further apart, essentially creating more space for the herniated disc to move back into. Over time, when this is done repeatedly, your herniated disc should become smaller and smaller. You should get relief from each session since the flexion movements also reduce inflammation in the area.
Pelvic Blocking
Another technique your chiropractor may use, especially for herniated discs in the lower back, is called pelvic blocking. They'll have you position yourself over several soft wedges, which are placed under each side of your pelvis. By elevating your pelvis, they will be changing the angle of your spine and creating more space between the vertebrae. They may then adjust your spine to create more space around the herniated disc. They may also guide you through some stretching exercises to loosen up the muscles in your lower back. A lot of the more aching pain you get from a herniated disc is muscle-related, and this technique can help relieve it.
Manipulation Under Sedative
Sometimes, the muscles around a herniated disc will be so tight that a chiropractor cannot adjust the spine effectively. In this case, they may collaborate with a physician to manipulate your spine while you're under a gentle sedative. The sedative will relax your muscles so the chiropractor can move your spine back into alignment, relieving pressure on the herniated disc. This usually only needs to be done a few times, at most.
Talk to your chiropractor to learn more about these herniated disc treatments and to find out which one best suits your own needs. For more information on chiropractic treatment, contact a professional near you.
Share5 June 2023
