Slipped Disc and Chiropractic Care
A slipped, or prolapsed, disc is a medical condition affecting the spine that can cause severe lower back pain. The bones that make up the spine – the vertebrae – have cartilage discs between them, connected by a gel-like tissue. A slipped disc is caused when the soft part of the disc bulges through the circle of connective tissue. The disc does not actually slip out of place, but rather it bulges, causing a push on the spinal cord.
A slipped disc can many times be symptom-free. However, when pain does occur, it is due to the pressure placed on the spinal cord or nerve roots. This type of pressure can result in feeling muscle spasm, paralyzed muscles, disturbed feelings in the limbs, and problems controlling the bladder.
How Chiropractic Can Help Slipped Discs
A chiropractor will develop a treatment plan that may include spinal manipulation and other chiropractic techniques to ease the slipped disc symptoms. Adjustments to remove subluxation (when one or more of the bones in your spine move out of position) are also proven effective treatments for a slipped disc. The adjustments decompress the vertebrae, allowing the disc the ability to heal itself.