3 Treatments to Relieve Herniated Disc Pain

You recently found out that a herniated spinal disc is the underlying cause of your chronic lower back pain, stiff, aching neck, or sciatica-induced leg discomfort. To alleviate your pain and support timely healing, Dr. Lincoln German and Dr. Mikaela Foley may recommend the following:

• A period of rest and activity modification
• OTC anti-inflammatory pain relievers 
• Physical therapy exercises and stretches
• Lifestyle modifications (i.e., weight loss)

As helpful as these strategies can be, sometimes you need next-level care to attain faster, complete relief from persistent herniated disc pain—and our team at Spine Care of Manassas Chiropractic Center is here to help. 

A leading cause of chronic pain 

Intervertebral discs are donut-like cushions between your spine's bones (vertebrae). Besides preventing bone-on-bone contact, discs enable spinal flexibility without sacrificing too much strength. When spinal discs are healthy, they function to:  

• Maintain proper spacing between vertebrae 
• Preserve normal dynamic spinal alignment
• Facilitate fluid spinal flexibility and motion 
• Help absorb the shock forces of movement  

These resilient "cartilaginous joints" consist of a tough, rubbery exterior (annulus fibrosus), a soft, gel-like interior (nucleus pulposus), and hyaline cartilage "end plates" on each flat side. A disc becomes herniated when a tear in its tough exterior allows its gel-like interior to seep out, often onto nearby spinal nerve roots.  

Lower back pain, neck pain, and sciatica are three common chronic pain complaints. In many of these cases, damaged spinal discs are to blame. Age-related deterioration — also known as degenerative disc disease — is the top cause of disc damage and pain.  

Need to ease herniated disc pain?

Most herniated discs heal gradually over time. However, disc-related pain and discomfort can sometimes be severe along the way. If herniated disc pain limits your mobility, makes it hard to sleep at night, keeps you from your usual activities, or undermines your energy levels, it's time for next-level care.   

Depending on your case, we may recommend any combination of the following:

1. Chiropractic care 

Chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to herniated disc pain, aiming to provide effective, long-lasting relief. If we determine that spinal misalignment is part of your disc problem, we may perform a hands-on spinal adjustment to gently stretch your spine and move your slipped disc away from the irritating nerve root.   

Most people benefit from a series of chiropractic adjustments that work gradually to help the spine maintain proper length and spacing; your chiropractic care plan depends on the severity, duration, and nature of your disc problem.   

Various spinal manipulation techniques, including the flexion-distraction method and pelvic blocking treatments, can help alleviate herniated disc pain. We may also incorporate massage (myofascial release) to help ease muscle tension and postural rehabilitation stretches and exercises to help you sustain normal spinal spacing. 

2. Spinal decompression 

If you haven't attained effective relief from a "stepped" care approach for herniated disc pain (e.g., physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage), spinal decompression is an ideal next step. If our evaluation suggests you could benefit early on, it may be your best first step.  

Spinal decompression uses a motorized traction table to stretch and gently lengthen your spine mechanically. This noninvasive approach applies the same chiropractic principles that guide hands-on spinal adjustments with computer-assisted precision. 

Specifically done to treat herniated discs in the lower back, spinal decompression can:

• Correct structural compression in the lumbar spine
• Alleviate compression-related nerve irritation and pain
• Help herniated or damaged spinal discs heal faster 

The goal of spinal decompression is to alleviate disc-related lower back pain or sciatica, halt degenerative disc damage, promote healing, and prevent the need for future surgery.

3. Cold laser therapy

Another herniated disc treatment we may recommend after — or possibly as part of — your "stepped care" plan is cold laser therapy. Also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), this innovative method uses low-intensity wavelengths of light energy to stimulate accelerated healing in damaged discs. 

When we pass the handheld laser device over the treatment area, its non-thermal light painlessly penetrates your skin tissues, reaching structures up to five centimeters below your skin. Once these light photons reach your damaged disc, the disc's light-sensitive cell receptors absorb them and begin to interact with them.  

This sets a cascade of healing effects into motion that help improve circulation, reduce inflammation, repair damaged cells and tissues, ease pain, and accelerate recovery. When it comes to herniated disc healing, cold laser therapy is a game-changing approach.  

Effective pain relief through healing

Herniated disc pain doesn't have to rule your life — we can help you heal, put an end to your discomfort, and get you back to your active life. Call or click online to schedule a visit at Spine Care of Manassas Chiropractic Center in Manassas, Virginia, today to get started.