Herniated disks occur when the soft cushions, called disks, between your spinal vertebrae begin to bulge or rupture, pressing on nerves along the spine. Disk herniations can occur in any part of the spine and neck, however, they are most common in the lower back area and can cause extreme pain, numbness, tingling, and an inability to walk or stand.
Traditional treatments such as rest, ice or heat, medication, and physical therapy are often utilized to treat minor cases of disk herniation and can minimize the effects of pain or further injury. But in some severe cases, herniated disks are often too damaged and require surgery. Chiropractic care offers a few noninvasive and holistic treatments, such as spinal manipulation, and has been gaining popularity for its new technological advancements in shockwave therapy for treating herniated disk pain.
Herniated Disks: An Overview
Spinal discs contain two parts: a jellylike center called the nucleus, and a tougher, rubbery exterior called the annulus. When the nucleus begins to push itself out through tears in the annulus and bulge out, disc herniation occurs and can have adverse effects on various parts of the body.
Depending on where your herniated disk is located and whether the disc is pressing on a nerve or not, you can experience the following symptoms:
Arm or Leg Pain: If your herniated disk is located in your lower back and lumbar area, you can expect to have pain in your lower back, glutes and buttocks, or thigh and calf. Herniated disks higher up in the neck can cause pain in your arms and shoulders, which can turn into shooting pains when sudden movements such as coughing or sneezing are made.
Weakness: When a herniated disk presses on a nerve, the surrounding muscles tend to weaken, making day-to-day tasks difficult and debilitating.
Numbness and Tingling: Herniated disks can also cause numbness and tingling due to increased pressure on nerves.
Traditional Treatment Options
Treatment for herniated disks typically depends on the severity of the herniation. Traditional treatment approaches are usually started with conservative approaches such as rest and pain medication in conjunction with physical therapy. If these methods don’t work and the herniation is determined to be more severe, injections or spinal decompression therapy may be used. In extreme cases, surgery can be done to stabilize the spine and remove the damaged part of the disk, though this is often used as a last resort due to the risks involved.
Utilizing Chiropractic Care for Herniated Disks
Since chiropractors focus on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, chiropractic care is a great option for maintaining spinal health. Chiropractic adjustments aim to improve spinal alignment which, in turn, aligns disks and prevents herniation. These manipulations reduce the pressure on surrounding nerves and muscles, alleviating a lot of the pain associated with herniated disks.
When visiting a chiropractor, you can expect them to conduct an evaluation of the severity of your disk herniation and to create a personalized treatment plan. While traditional adjustments typically suffice in relieving herniated disk pain, your chiropractor may suggest the implementation of new treatments or technology, such as shockwave therapy, to promote healing and recovery.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), known simply as shockwave therapy, is a non-invasive treatment that utilizes a handheld device to deliver high-energy acoustic waves to affected areas of the body. Shockwave Therapy can be used in a variety of applications from treating plantar fasciitis and disk herniation to breaking up kidney stones so that they can be passed easier.
Shockwave therapy treatments send high-energy waves into the body’s tissues, creating microtraumas. These microtraumas induce inflammatory responses that increase blood flow and serve as a catalyst for initiating the body’s self-healing abilities. In treating herniated disks, shockwave therapy is done near the ruptured disk, to promote the healing and repair of damaged tissues.
What to Expect During a Shockwave Therapy Session
Based on the severity of your herniated disk and your overall health, your chiropractor will determine if you are an optimal candidate for shockwave therapy as well as conduct a thorough review of your medical history.
If shockwave therapy is deemed a suitable treatment option, your chiropractor will apply a conductive gel to the injured area of your spine and use the shockwave device to deliver short bursts of waves to the targeted area. Sessions typically last about 10-15 minutes and can be done multiple times per week.
The sensations of shockwave therapy can be a different experience for each person. In a Shockwave Therapy session, your chiropractor will start on the lowest setting and gradually increase the intensity to the most tolerable setting. On the lowest setting, many patients describe shockwave therapy as a mild tapping sensation on their skin, while others report feeling like they are being snapped with a rubber band on higher settings. While this level of pain is usually well-tolerated, some patients might experience mild side effects such as tenderness or bruising.
Treating Herniated Disk Pain with Governor’s Park Chiropractic
With 2.8 million people experiencing disk herniation per year, shockwave therapy offers a non-invasive and promising option for pain relief and recovery. Treatments for mild cases of disk herniation can be treated by traditional means such as regular chiropractic adjustments, but severe cases may require shockwave therapy as a method of expediting the healing process.
Governor’s Park Chiropractic shockwave therapy treatments are an ideal option for those suffering from herniated disk pain. As the premier chiropractic service in the Denver-Metro area, our chiropractors can get you back to the life you love. Book an appointment with us today to take the first step towards a pain-free life.
Governor's Park Chiropractic is the Colorado chiropractor team dedicated to helping individuals get out of pain and achieve better health. Offering a range of services and treatment options to meet the specific needs of each patient.