People often say to me, ‘I have a slipped disc. Can chiropractic help?', or ‘I have a slipped disc, so chiropractic can't help me. I need surgery'.
First thing's first: a disc can't slip. It can wedge, it can bulge, it can protrude or it can herniate, but it can't slip and if it has done one of these things more often than not, chiropractic care can help. In fact research shows that given the risks and limited success rates of surgery, a more conservative form of care, like chiropractic, should always be tried BEFORE going down the surgery route.
So what is a disc?
A disc is a small cartilaginous sac between the bones of your spine that acts much like a shock absorber in your car. It is designed to reduce the impact on your spine and also create separation between your vertebrae in order for the nerves to exit unimpeded.
How and why does it get injured?
People often assume that a disc injury can only be caused by a sudden traumatic event. Whilst this can often be the case, more often than not it is due to years of built-up stressors from small knocks and falls, to maintained postures, to poor diet and smoking and even emotional stress.
How can chiropractic help?
Chiropractic care is a natural solution that has helped millions of people all over the world with their disc problems. It works by restoring the proper movement and function of the joint. This helps in two ways. Firstly the discs in your spine don't have their own blood supply, they rely on movement to get nutrients in and waste out. Without movement your discs will wear and tear at a much higher rate than is normal and will not be able to heal properly. Secondly, a chiropractic adjustment helps to relieve the pressure from the nervous system. When these nerves are being interfered with they can sometimes be very painful, but the interference also effects many other nerves including those that control the healing and repair in your spine and discs. By removing this interference, chiropractic adjustments help your discs to heal and repair as they are designed to do.
So is there ever a case for spinal surgery on a disc?
Absolutely. In some cases there will be too much damage or too much instability in your spine and surgery is the only option. A chiropractor studies for five years at university to ensure that they know exactly when and when not to adjust. If you are one of those very rare cases where surgery is the only option, they will let you know.
So if you have a ‘slipped disc', try chiropractic first - you will be glad you did!
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