Treatment of Bulging, Slipped, and Herniated Discs in Del Mar CA
A bulging disc (aka slipped or protruding disc) isn’t as serious as a herniation. Your vertebrae along with the nerves that run between them from the spinal cord to the rest of you are cushioned by intervertebral discs. The outer layer is hard and the inside is filled with a jelly-like substance that helps absorb shock.
Discs can exceed normal limits for many reasons. If they’re inflated too much it will compress the nerves and/or the spinal cord. The resulting pain can radiate down the back, neck, arms, and legs depending on where the bulging level sits. The good news is that bulging discs respond very well to chiropractic treatment at Health by the Sea.
The spinal discs are typically quite durable but several varying factors in life can stress them out to the point of swelling which results in pressure on the nerve. This scenario requires chiropractic treatment to correct and heal the problem.
- Not-so-perfect posture
Bending, leaning, slouching, or stooping (especially a-symmetrically)
causes a gradual subluxation in the vertebrae and subsequently causes swelling of the affected discs.
- Bad ergonomics
Lifting heavy stuff incorrectly, improperly arranging your computer desk or workstation, or exercising with poor form or mechanics can all cause bulging discs.
- Injury
Sudden impact from a car accident, athletic injury, or personal injury can shift the vertebrae, causing the discs to bulge, and creating pain from the nerves in the area. Interestingly, MANY bulging discs are asymptomatic at the start but over time if left untreated eventually manifest pain.
At Health by the Sea, Dr. Fattie can diagnose the condition with a proper examination and then provide multiple treatment options that allow for natural healing and pain resolution of the problematic disc.
- Upper cervical and full-spine chiropractic adjustments.
Gentle, precise spinal adjustments serve to realign the bone which removes the nerve irritation allowing the healing process to begin. Over time this will allow for an improved range of motion, dampening of muscle spasms, and pain relief.
- Therapeutic exercises and at-home activities.
Dr. Fattie will offer specific exercises and home activities to help you build core strength, reduce pain, increase flexibility, prevent future exacerbation, and improve habits.
A bulging disc isn’t necessarily accompanied by pain initially. This is why it’s key to have your spine checked and adjusted regularly. At our office, we monitor and correct spinal problems before dysfunction and pain show up.
More about Discs:
Disc protrusion is synonymous with a bulging disc. Normally, the outer fibrous material of the disc should be level with the edges of the vertebrae. The outer shell of the disc also encloses the shock-absorbing jelly-like center. Such placement allows the disc to provide a cushion between the spinal bones, allowing the nerves to pass through and do their work throughout your entire body.
Subluxation, trauma, arthritis, and other conditions can weaken the outer covering. This will force the core (center of the disc, the jelly part) to compensate. Over time repetitive movements or at once with trauma is the perfect scenario for the disc to then bulge.
It’s important to note that with bulges the outer layer or shell of the disc does remain intact, which is partly why they can show up without symptoms or pain initially. When left untreated it’ll worsen over time and become severe which will cause compression of the nerves. If that is then left untreated, disc protrusion worsens until the outer layer of the disc is torn, causing the nucleus pulposus to protrude outward which is now a herniation. These are a lot more painful and require more intensive treatment to resolve.