One of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic treatment is pain from a herniated disc. And if you feel persistent pain in your back or neck, or if you feel pain, numbness, or tingling shooting down one of your limbs, you might want to get examined for a herniated disc, too. One thing Dr. Razmik Mesrkhani has learned in over twenty-five years of practice in Glendale is that back and limb pain can often be treated with non-invasive, non-addictive means. But fear holds many people back from getting pain examined, which is why it’s important for more people to understand what a herniated disc is and the many safe treatment options available.
Between the flat bodies of our vertebrae are shock-absorbing spongy discs. These discs are made up of a gelatinous nucleus pulposus surrounded by rubbery rings called the annulus. Sometimes, acute injuries damage the annulus enough to allow the nucleus pulposus to bulge outward. This is more likely to happen as a person gets older and the disc naturally loses water content over time, causing it to be weaker. Although herniated discs do not always cause symptoms, they are less effective as shock absorbers and the rest of the vertebrae will experience more wear and tear. But sometimes, a bulging disc can cause a hot spot around its location. Furthermore, the nerves that lead to the rest of the body emerge from the spinal cord through small canals in the vertebrae, and if the bulging disc compresses a nerve at its root, communication along that nerve will be disrupted and pain, numbness, or tingling along that nerve could result. Two particularly common places for discs to herniate is in the neck, where the nerves leading to the arms emerge, and in the lower back, where the nerves leading to the legs originate.
We offer lots of treatments for herniated discs. Our Glendale office is home to an advanced spinal decompression table. This device gently stretches a patient’s spine, creating negative pressure inside the discs and allowing the nucleus pulposus to be moved back into place. We also provide chiropractic adjustments for vertebrae that have become subluxed through injuries or deterioration of their discs. Several therapies are available to reduce inflammation, including electric muscle stimulation, acupuncture, heat lamp therapy, therapeutic massages, and application of low level lasers. To help patients return to holistic health and guard their discs as they continue to age, we can also advise patients on posture, core strengthening exercises to relieve the burden on their spinal columns, and use of nutritional supplements.