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A Slipped Disc… Is it really slipped?

Yes, but not really.

A slipped disc is one of many terms used to describe injury to the discs of the spine. They are also referred to as a ‘Bulging Disc’, ‘Herniated Disc’, a ‘Prolapsed Disc’ or a ‘Ruptured Disc’. Referring to the disc as being ‘slipped out’ is a bit of a misnomer as the discs are firmly attached to the bones of the spine (vertebrae). Instead, it is actually the jelly-like substance inside the disc that ‘slips’ out, and when it does it can press on and irritate the nerves of the spine to a significant degree. People with painful slipped discs will tell you that you will know all about it when it happens!

If you are reading this article, chances are you may believe or know you have a disc problem in your back.

As a result, you may be asking yourself:

• Do I have disc problem?
• What does disc pain feel like?
• Can it be the cause of my ‘sciatica’ or hand numbness?
• What causes a disc problem? Did I do something wrong for this to happen?
• Why am I in so much pain?
• Can Chiro help?
• Specifically, can the chiropractors at Stapleton Adelaide Chiropractic help with treatment of the pain and how long until I can get back into a life of health and wellness?!

Well, read on for answers!

Do I have a Disc Problem?

Possibly. It depends.

In order to determine whether a disc problem may be something you have, the following should be undertaken or considered:

• A full and comprehensive history
• A thorough examination including range of motion testing, orthopaedic examination, neurological examination and specific chiropractic tests.
• Imaging and Investigations (where appropriate)
• Referral (where appropriate)

This process should be undertaken with the guidance of a qualified health-care professional. Stapleton Chiropractic Adelaide chiropractors are five-year university-trained and government-regulated healthcare professionals that have the skills and expertise necessary to help work out what is causing your problem (be that a disc or something else) and the options available to you to take care of your problem/condition(s).

Our chiropractors are qualified as primary-contact professionals, meaning that they can work-out what your problem is and if it is determined not to be a chiropractic-based condition (or they believe something else could help you better) they can refer you in the direction best suited towards your unique condition. So either way, we will strive to get the best outcome possible for your spinal and overall health situation.

For Disc Problem Book an Appointment Now!

What does a slipped disc feel like?

A disc problem can feel like the following (among other things):

Lumbar (Low Back) Discs

• Low back pain
• Sciatica or lumbago
• Nerve pinching pain
• Burning sensations or loss of sensation
• Pins and needles in the back/legs
• Numbness in the back/legs
• Tingling
• Muscle Weakness in the low back or legs
• Muscle cramps and spasms
• Difficulty walking
• Difficulty sitting
• Pain with coughing, sneezing or going to the toilet
• Pain on movement
• Referred pain to other areas
• …and more

Cervical (Neck) Discs

• Neck pain
• Pins and needles and/or numbness in the arms and/or hands
• Muscle weakness in the arms/hands
• Grip strength weakness
• Difficulty using hands, opening doors
• Difficulty sitting, reading books, looking at phone or devices
• Pain with coughing, sneezing
• Pain on movement
• Associated headaches
• Referred pain to other areas
• …and more

What causes a slipped disc?

Many factors that can contribute to a slipped disc. Here are some following examples:

• Repetitive motions (i.e. bending, lifting and twisting).
• Work-related movements and demands
• The aging process (wear-and-tear, degenerative/deterioration changes in the back)
• A history of trauma (falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports-related injuries and other incidents etc.)
• Being overweight (discs overloaded with compression and gravity forces)
• Heavy lifting (especially with poor technique)
• Weak musculoskeletal conditioning or sedentary lifestyle
• Prolonged poor posture (i.e. bad sitting posture, bad sleeping posture etc.)
• … and more.

Can Chiro Help?

The Short Answer: Yes!

Chiropractic care has been shown to be effect in decreasing pain, increasing function and restoring quality of life and wellness to those with disc problems.

Our Stapleton Chiropractic Adelaide chiropractors go through all the appropriate measures to ensure you are receiving the right care for the right reasons in order to get the best results possible.

After going through a comprehensive history and examination with you, our chiropractors may refer you for further imaging in order to gain deeper levels of clarity towards your condition.

During your report of findings our chiropractors will sit down with you and explain to you what they have found to be the problem(s) and will discuss the best solutions to them. They may draw up geometry on your films (x-ray analysis) and go through them in detail with you. They will help you understand what condition your spine is in and your available options moving forward should action be recommended. Each option will be explained to you so that you can make an informed and educated decision on which option you would like to take moving forward.

If indicated (and you elect to do so), our chiropractors will spend time to construct a proper schedule of care geared towards your unique presentation to best address your problems. They will also help to work towards goals that you want to achieve (for example: get back to work, get back to sport, kick the football around with the family or whatever you aspire to do). Special additional time will be made to sit down and explain your schedule of care to you so you can understand what to expect when moving forward with your care (time frames, recommended adjustment frequencies, milestones and exercise implementation etc.).