The Centennial Chiropractor People Go To For A Bulging Disc Or Back Pain Relief
A bulging disc should not be confused with a herniated disc. Both injuries affect the cartilage, known as the disc in between the vertebrae.
However, a bulging disc occurs when the outside perimeter of the cartilage forms an outpouching that may put pressure on the nearby nerves.
What Symptoms Does A Bulging Disc Cause?
A bulging disc most commonly creates pressure on nearby nerves that can lead to a variety of symptoms. This could be as mild as tingling and numbness, or be as severe as neck pain, upper back pain, mid-back pain, lower back pain, and sciatica. When the disc has reached this intense stage, it’s most likely close to herniating.
- Tingling or pain into the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers – This could be due to a structural problem in the cervical region(neck).
- Weakness, or difficulty holding things in hands.
- Tingling or pain into the lower back, buttocks, legs, feet, and toes. – This could be due to a structural problem in the lumbar region (low-back).
- Weakness, or difficulty walking.
- If the sciatic nerve is affected, the sensations can present down just one leg, or possibly both. – Typical symptoms could be muscle spasm or radiating pain
What Causes a Bulging Disc?
The discs are like the jelly on the inside of a donut. They act as shock absorbers to cushion the vertebrae and allow for bending and twisting. When the discs are intact, they create the perfect amount of room for the nerves to pass within and remain undisturbed.
However, the jelly can be pushed out if the vertebrae above or below the disc begin to shift. This shift creates abnormal pressure and stress load on the disc. Over time, this may lead to a bulge, herniation, or protrusion.
Here is a list of some of the causes in a bulging disc injury:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- SmokingContinuous stress and strain on the disc. This may be due to an injury, improper movement and biomechanics, or heavy lifting.
- Weakened back muscles Strong back muscles help to protect against a disc bulge or herniation.
- Car Accident, Auto Accident Injury, or hard fall Although bulging discs may occur over time, the process can be sped up due to a traumatic event like a hard fall,
- Bad posture. This can be due to too much time spent on technology, aka “tech neck”, bad positioning during sleep, sitting or standing while slouched forward.
- Obesity
- Sports or activities like basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, running, and football, are also risk factors.
- Mundane activities that place stress and strain on the spine. Gardening, shoveling snow, raking leaves, or doing the dishes can lead to the weakening of the discs.
Chiropractic Care for a Disc Bulge
Initially, a small bulge may not cause a lot of pain, tingling, or other symptoms. As the bulge increases in size, the pain will likely become more severe. As a Neuro-Structural chiropractor, Dr. Pennetti does not attempt to treat the symptoms of the bulging disc. Instead, he focuses on restoring the normal position of the vertebrae above and below the affected disc. As the normal position starts to return, the disc naturally will be sucked back in to act as a shock absorber. This is the difference between treating the superficial symptoms of a condition like a disc injury, and addressing the underlying cause to why the pain is there in the first place.
Dr. Matt Pennetti performs this non-invasive, drug-free bulging disc procedure for pain relief, prevention, and ultimate correction of the issue. The first step is to have a consultation with him about your past history to determine if a Neuro-Structural Examination would be warranted. If this is the case, the Neuro-Structural testing will evaluate the health and condition of your spine, as well as to determine how healthy or poor your nervous system is functioning. Both play a role in the levels of pain and discomfort you may be feeling. After determining the location of a bulging disc, along with the core problems in your spine, Dr. Matt will be able to provide a Neuro-Structural Correction. This is a gentle, specific chiropractic adjustment to establish better movement and position for your vertebrae. The goal is to achieve lasting relief and be pain-free while working out, shoveling the snow, landscaping around the house, or working at your desk.
In addition to spinal posture correction, your Centennial chiropractor will coach you on more ergonomic, posture-friendly ways to work, exercise, live and even sleep so that you avoid future disc problems. A periodic chiropractic care checkup can ensure that your discs and spine maintain healthy alignment, which can improve your overall wellness.
See Your Centennial Chiropractor for Bulging Disc Prevention or Pain Relief Treatment
For a spinal disc evaluation to prevent a bulging disc from developing, or for current bulging disc pain relief treatment, schedule an appointment with Dr. Pennetti, the chiropractor Centennial relies on for effective, drug-free back pain treatment: (720) 676-6440.