If you have lower back pain that keeps coming back, or your low back pain extends further down your leg and into your foot, it could be an indication that you have a slipped disk.
Also known as a herniated disk, the pain caused by this condition can be extreme and in some cases debilitating.
Pain Caused by a Herniated Disk
Having a slipped disk can be very unpleasant. But in some cases, symptoms will subside in six weeks or less. This is the case in about 90% of herniated disk cases.
If your disk pain lasts longer than six weeks, or keeps recurring over a period of several months or years, this could be an indication that it may not go away on its own. Other treatment options – including chiropractic care – should then be considered.
What Causes Disks to Slip?
Your spine is composed of a chain of bones known as the vertebrae. The front part of each individual vertebrae is called the vertebral body. Between each vertebrae are soft spinal disks that have a hard, multilayered casing and a gel-like center, known as the nucleus pulposus.
These disks are what allow the spine to be flexible and let us lean forward or turn our upper body from side to side. Our disks also absorb shocks that are transferred to the spine while running or jumping, for example,.
When you have a slipped disk, it means that one of the spinal disks is bulging beyond the edges of the vertebral bodies that are above and below it. There are three types of slipped disks:
- Prolapsed Disk — This means the disk is bulging out between the vertebrae, but the disk’s outermost layer is still intact.
- Extruding Disk – This means there is a tear in the outer layer of the spinal disk which is causing the spinal disk tissue to leak out. But the tissue that has come out remains connected to the disk.
- Sequestration – This is the most serious type of slipped disk. In this instance, the spinal disk tissue has entered into the spinal canal and is no longer directly attached to the disk.
While all three types of herniated disks can be extremely painful, most people suffering from a slipped disk can receive relief through chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Care and Slipped Disks
If you are experiencing recurrent lower back pain and you believe you may have a slipped disk, you should absolutely consider seeking treatment from one of our chiropractic professionals.
By gently manipulating the spine so that it returns to its normal state, our team of chiropractors can help relieve the pressure caused by your slipped disk and provide instant relief to your back pain.
If you or somebody you know is suffering from pain as the result of a slipped disk, contact us today for your free chiropractic consultation. Our expert chiropractic medical professionals can tell you if chiropractic treatments are a good option for treating your pain.
