Could a chiropractor treat your slipped disc? There are a lot of people who are scared of chiropractors, and it is understandable. The “pops” and “cracks” can be irksome, and the thought of getting your body manipulated can be terrifying when you’re already in pain. But before you shut down a chiropractor’s suggestion for the treatment of herniated discs, read on! A chiropractor can be a perfect “middle of the road.”
Therapy that can help you prevent surgery or delay it. A discectomy decompression technique could be the best course of action in more serious herniated disc cases. However, it’s necessary to try less invasive ways to relieve and alleviate your back pain before going under the knife.
Seeing a chiropractor for your herniated disc is one path to try. They will test you in an initial consultation with your chiropractor to see whether you’re a chiropractic nominee.
Pros of Seeing a Chiropractor
- It can decrease pain and improve mobility.
- Non-invasive treatment as an alternative to surgery. Before surgery, patients can almost always exhaust less invasive procedures.
- Drug-free therapy! There is no prescription to take and thus no adverse effects associated with treatment.
- An expert who is highly trained. A specialist with expert knowledge of the body and musculoskeletal function is a chiropractor. Your chiropractor should be able to manipulate the spine, reduce pain and promote healing.
- It’s most likely covered by insurance.
Cons of Seeing a Chiropractor
- Not for everyone recommended. You may not be a candidate for chiropractic practice, depending on the condition of your ruptured disc or other medical factors.
- Anxiety-Inducing/ Scary. While the “pops” and “cracks” you hear are actually just the release in your joint of pressurized gas, it can squeeze out some individuals. Like fear of the dentist, fear of the chiropractor affects many individuals.
- Side-effect potential. Some patients experience temporary side effects such as soreness, headaches, fatigue, etc., with manipulations of the spine and body.
The pros of a chiropractor outweigh the cons for those with a herniated disc. Have you been referred by your doctor or medical team to a chiropractor? Regardless, if you’ve been toying with the idea of seeing a
back pain chiropractor, here’s what you might expect from the process.
Your chiropractor will test you before getting down to business. This can involve bringing up findings from x-rays or MRI to evaluate the posture by performing an in-office test; if any tests suggest that you have neurological disorders or that your symptoms (loss of feeling, no sensation, etc. are serious, you will probably be encouraged to consult with an orthopedic surgeon instead.
Your chiropractor will check the following before the first chiropractic session to treat a bulging disc:
- Neurological disorders of some kind. Are your reflexes within the normal range of functioning?
- Loss of muscle, weakness, and strength. Do you show signs of muscle loss?
- Are you having a lack of feeling or sensation?
- Treatable abnormalities/confirmation that you have a herniated disc from diagnostic findings (X-ray/ MRI).
If all the things are a go, then a professional chiropractor will work out a course of action.