Back pain continues to be one of the main issues for people who seek chiropractic care. Herniated discs in particular are one of the leading causes of back pain for many Americans. Laguna Hills chiropractic care offers patients a drug-free alternative for this painful and debilitating condition.
At this point some clarification over terminology may be helpful since a herniated (or bulging) disc is not the same as a ruptured disc. A herniated disc is one whose soft inner nucleus has protruded through the disc's outer membrane. This is less serious than a rupture and the resulting pain is easier to assuage.
A disc is deemed ruptured when the nucleus makes a more complete break through its outer casing. This puts pressure on the spinal cord and presents a more severe medical problem. Either way, it's the pressure placed on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots or sciatic nerve that are the cause of the pain.
Fortunately, a chiropractor has quite a few options when it comes to caring for patients with this problem. Before any plan of care is begun however, each patient is given a full examination. In the main, the chiropractor will check the patient's reflexes, posture, nerve sensation and muscle strength.
X-rays or an MRI may also be undertaken if the practitioner requires them. When the examination is over, the chiropractor will draw up a plan of care that is custom made for the patient. This will almost certainly include spinal manipulation as this helps bring the spine back to its proper shape and release pressure on the discs and nerves.
The chiropractor may also make adjustments to the neck and pelvis, and may stretch and massage specific muscles. An additional intervention is spinal decompression. This is the practice of gently elongating the spine on a traction table (or a motorized device) to ease pressure on the discs and thus reduce pain.
At this point some clarification over terminology may be helpful since a herniated (or bulging) disc is not the same as a ruptured disc. A herniated disc is one whose soft inner nucleus has protruded through the disc's outer membrane. This is less serious than a rupture and the resulting pain is easier to assuage.
A disc is deemed ruptured when the nucleus makes a more complete break through its outer casing. This puts pressure on the spinal cord and presents a more severe medical problem. Either way, it's the pressure placed on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots or sciatic nerve that are the cause of the pain.
Fortunately, a chiropractor has quite a few options when it comes to caring for patients with this problem. Before any plan of care is begun however, each patient is given a full examination. In the main, the chiropractor will check the patient's reflexes, posture, nerve sensation and muscle strength.
X-rays or an MRI may also be undertaken if the practitioner requires them. When the examination is over, the chiropractor will draw up a plan of care that is custom made for the patient. This will almost certainly include spinal manipulation as this helps bring the spine back to its proper shape and release pressure on the discs and nerves.
The chiropractor may also make adjustments to the neck and pelvis, and may stretch and massage specific muscles. An additional intervention is spinal decompression. This is the practice of gently elongating the spine on a traction table (or a motorized device) to ease pressure on the discs and thus reduce pain.
About the Author:
You can get fast neck, spine and hip pain relief through chiropractic care. Get more information about a well-respected Laguna Hills chiropractic doctor at http://www.claytonthomasnoel.com now.
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