BULGING DISC TREATMENT IN Wheat Ridge
A bulging disc (often called a slipped disc), is not as severe of any injury as a herniated disc. The vertebrae in your spine are cushioned by intervertebral discs which act as spacers and allow your nerves to pass between the bones in your spine and travel to the rest of your body. Intervertebral discs are made up of two parts, a tough outer layer called the annulus fibrosus (annulus) and a jelly-like center called the nucleus pulposus (nucleus). A bulged disc occurs when pressure causes the nucleus to bulge past its normal boundary created by the annulus and it can result in pinching or nerves or compression of the spinal cord. If the nerves are pinched or the spinal cord is compressed you can feel radiating pain up or down your neck and back as well as into your arms or legs depending on which nerve is pinched or injured. Chiropractic care is the gold standard for treating bulging or herniated discs. Our Wheat Ridge chiropractor practices the Gonstead method which is specialized in treating disc bulges and herniations without surgery or corticosteroid injections.
Our Chiropractor Can Help with Bulging Disc Pain Relief
There are many thing that can place enough stress on intervertebral disc to cause them to bulge and place pressure on nerves that require treatment from our chiropractor:
Understanding Bulging Disc injuries
A bulging disc develops when the disc’s inner gel-like core pushes against its tougher outer ring, potentially leading to pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. These symptoms might extend to the arms or legs. Triggered by injury, poor posture, or natural degenerative changes, a bulging disc can greatly diminish one’s quality of life.
What causes a bulging disc
A disc bulge occurs when the outer layer of a spinal disc weakens, causing the disc to extend beyond its normal boundary. This condition often develops due to the natural aging process or repetitive stress that causes the disc material to stretch and bulge outward. While not as severe as a disc herniation where the disc material breaks through, a disc bulge can still compress nearby spinal nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness around the affected area.
Bulging disc caused by an auto accident in Wheat Ridge, CO
A bulging disc from an auto accident typically occurs due to the intense and abrupt forces exerted on the spine during the collision.
The sudden impact can cause the discs to compress and stretch beyond their normal boundaries, pushing the disc’s outer layer, or annulus, to bulge outwards. This bulging can irritate nearby nerves and lead to discomfort or pain, significantly affecting mobility and quality of life.
Bulging disc caused by sporting injuries
A bulging disc from sporting injuries can develop when intense or repetitive physical activity puts excessive pressure on the spine. This often happens in sports that involve heavy lifting, sudden impacts, or forceful twisting movements.
The pressure can cause the disc’s outer layer to stretch and bulge outward without breaking, potentially compressing nearby nerves and leading to pain or discomfort associated with a bulging disc.
Bulging disc caused by poor posture and ergonomics
Correcting Bulging discs in Wheat Ridge, CO
At The Disc Chiropractic, the approach to treating bulging discs is comprehensive, involving chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression therapy and shockwave therapy. Chiropractic adjustments are crucial for realigning the spine, thereby reducing nerve pressure and enhancing spinal health.
Decompression therapy complements these treatments by gently stretching the spine, which helps relieve disc pressure and encourages the natural healing process by improving nutrient flow to the damaged areas. Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses acoustic waves to target areas of chronic pain and promote healing by enhancing blood circulation and cell regeneration, reducing inflammation, and breaking down calcified tissue.
This integrated treatment strategy is designed to optimize recovery, improve functional mobility, and alleviate pain, offering a personalized and effective solution for patients with bulging disc issues.
Chiropractic adjustments
Soft tissue therapy
Soft tissue therapy is important for faster soft tissue healing and repair. The soft tissues supporting your spine help to maintain proper posture and prevent bulging disc pain.
Therapeutic Exercise
Dr. Al Simeone will recommend and teach your how to prevent future disc injuries using therapeutic exercises to reinforce core strength and flexibility.
More about Protruding Disc Problems
The annulus can be damaged or weakened by subluxations, injuries and other conditions. If the outer annulus becomes weakened it will allow the nucleus to bulge or protrude through the annulus. With a bulged or protruding disc the annulus is still fully intact so you may not feel any pain if the bulge or protrusion is mild. If the disc bulge or protrusion is moderate or severe it can pinch your nerves causing radiating pain, numbness or tingling in areas of the body that are affected by those nerves.
The good news is that bulging or protruding discs respond very well to chiropractic care. It is wise to treat spinal disc injuries like a bulged disc with chiropractic care because treatment will prevent further damage. If left untreated, a bulged disc can get worse, tearing through the annulus and allowing the jelly-like nucleus to push outside the disc itself. When that happens, a bulging disc becomes a herniated disc which causes more severe pain and required more intensive treatment to correct and heal.