Healing Bulging or Herniated Discs 

Have you suffered a disc injury? If you suspect that your chronic back pain is due to a herniated disc or a bulging disc, or if you have already received a diagnosis that confirms a disc injury, the experts at Intouch Chiropractic in San Diego can help. In fact, herniated disc treatment and bulging disc treatment are two of our practice’s specialties. For lasting, holistic relief from back pain in Southern California, look no further than Intouch Chiropractic in San Diego.

Whether your pain is mild or severe, it is important to seek herniated disc relief in San Diego right away to avoid permanent damage. Degenerative Disc Disease progresses over time and worsens without proper treatment. The NUCCA Spinal Care and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression treatments available at Intouch Chiropractic often provide immediate relief from the pain and discomfort associated with disc injuries.

Non-Invasive, Non-Surgical Solutions: Bulging & Herniated Disc Treatments at Intouch Chiropractic

The information you share with us during your consultation, in addition to your exam and advanced imaging findings, helps us determine if we can help you. If you’re a candidate for our care, you can expect to rapidly have decreased pain, less numbness and tingling, improved function, and increased muscle strength. 

We do not prescribe medications or perform injections. Instead, our doctors provide a long-term strategy to not only get the relief that you seek right away but also prevent future spinal damage. 

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Chris' Herniated Disc Experience

"I am back to normal activities now!"

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Spinal Decompression for Lasting Pain Relief

Spinal Decompression slowly stretches and relaxes your spine. With the DRX9000, the cycles of decompression help create a vacuum phenomenon that allows nutrients, fluid, and oxygen to flow back into your discs. This vacuum effect, produced at the level of the affected disc, retracts the bulge/herniation back to center. This is important to note since discs are avascular, meaning that discs do not have direct blood supply, with capillaries terminating at the end plates of the bones next to them.

Discover Effective Alternatives to Back Surgery at Intouch Chiropractic

Less than 20% of back surgeries are considered successful, resulting in zero symptoms or disability. In our opinion, all non-surgical treatment options should be exhausted before surgery is considered. If you have had radiographs or MRIs taken before, please bring them with you to your appointment for our doctors to review. 

We see many patients that have failed to obtain relief from other treatments, such as prescription medications, physical therapy, and even surgery. Don’t lose hope! We have successfully helped many patients with herniated or bulging discs in San Diego using the DRX9000, our state-of-the-art spinal decompression technology,  and NUCCA Spinal Care as a dual approach.

What Is a Herniated Disc? What Is a Bulging Disc?

Intervertebral discs are small cushions that sit between your spinal bones. Each disc has a tough outer ring and a soft gel-like center. Spinal discs are your spine’s shock absorbers. Discs also act like spacers between the bones so that they don’t touch or rub against each other when you are moving around. Healthy discs are sponge-like and help keep your spine flexible.

It’s important to know the differences between a bulging vs. a herniated disc:

  • A herniated disc is a disc that ruptures due to trauma or injury. When a disc herniates, the outer shell cracks or tears. This break allows the jelly-like center of the disc to leak, irritating nearby nerves. The leaked material chemically and physically irritates the surrounding tissues causing symptoms. 
  • A bulging disc is a disc that has degenerated over time. It has not reached the point of herniation, but its structure is weakened substantially. A bulging disc is basically a disc that has wear and tear and physically irritates the nearby soft tissues.

Although herniated discs and bulging discs can occur in any part of your spine, most occur in the lumbar spine (lower back) or cervical spine (neck). These discs can press on nerves causing pain, numbness, and weakness in the area of the body affected by that nerve. 

  • Lumbar disc injuries often lead to low back pain symptoms and sciatica symptoms. 
  • Cervical disc injuries result in shoulder, arm, and hand symptoms. 
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Why Do Discs Herniate?

The majority of the time, patients can pinpoint a specific incident or trauma which they feel is the reason for tingling, pain, numbness into their upper and lower extremities. In other instances, symptoms come on gradually with no known cause. 

In our experience, the most common causes of disc herniation are:

  • Sudden Movement: Any sudden movement that jars your body can cause disc herniation. Sometimes, it’s a simple movement that damages an already-prone disc.
  • Sudden Strain: Lifting a heavy item, especially not using the proper lifting technique, can hurt your back. You are especially susceptible to disc herniation when you lift a heavy item and turn your upper body at the same time. This is the most vulnerable position for your spine. Always lift with your legs, completely stand up and then turn your entire body.
  • Wear and Tear: You are more at risk for disc herniations as you get older. Increased wear and tear translates to increased injury. In addition, the anatomy of a disc changes over time. Discs lose their water content over the years. A young person’s discs have a higher water concentration versus someone older. Many of us notice that we tend to shrink over the years, and one reason for that is a loss of disc height. A decrease in water content makes a disc more brittle and less flexible, increasing the risk of disc damage.

No matter the cause, you don’t need to suffer the pain and discomfort of disc injury for a moment longer. If you need bulging or herniated disc treatment in San Diego, you can learn more about our DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and NUCCA Spinal care and how it can help you achieve your goals. Call our office or schedule an appointment here to learn more about how we can help you.

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