Herniated Discs? Will They Ever Heal?
Few of us give thought to the health of our spines until we experience back pain. Back pain is something that affects nearly 30 million Americans on a daily basis, and its debilitating reach puts a damper on everything from work to play and beyond. Fortunately, there is hope for Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale residents who are suffering; the key to pain-free movement is protecting and improving the health of your spine.
Your spine: A delicate and essential part of you
Your spine is an intricate network of bones, nerves, and discs. When they function correctly, you have freedom of movement without pain. Bending, twisting, flexing and other movements are effortless. When one of these critical spinal components is not functioning properly, however, its effects can be experienced in the form of pain, stiffness, and even immobility.
Herniated discs: A degenerative condition?
Your spinal discs play a critical role in preserving your spinal health. They serve as shock absorbers, providing a supportive framework that your body can rest upon. Discs are most prone to damage and degeneration in the lumbar spine (lower back) region and in the cervical spine (neck) region.
Due to normal wear and tear on the spine, there are times when the outer protective shell of a disc wears away, leaving the spongy, flexible material underneath susceptible to damage. Injuries and daily stressors on the lumbar spine and cervical spine can cause herniation to occur. Herniated discs can push on the delicate nerves housed in the spine, causing pain and inflammation to radiate outward toward other parts of the body.
Chiropractic care can help
Chiropractic care is an excellent way to help reduce the overall effects of herniation. Your chiropractor may perform a number of techniques to reduce pressure on the affected discs while easing pressure placed on nerves. Some of the techniques used are as follows:
1. Flexion-distraction
Flexion-distraction is a pain-free, non-invasive procedure involving stretching the spine to reduce pressure in affected areas. You lie on a specialized table and receive pumping pressure on inflamed discs, helping to stimulate blood flow and reduce pressure throughout the region.
2. Pelvic blocking treatments
In this type of procedure, soft wedges are placed on either side of your pelvis, drawing discs away from inflamed and infected nerves.
3. Adjustments
Quite often, a subluxation, or spinal misalignment, is the primary culprit of a slipped disc. Bringing your spine back into a state of homeostatic balance once more through spinal manipulation is the most effective way to ease pressure throughout your spine. Your chiropractic professional will conduct a thorough evaluation of your spine and make recommendations for treatment.
Spine and Joint Center: Keeping you healthy and active for life
The Spine and Joint Center serves residents in Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, and beyond. Our passion is health and wellness, and we bring the best treatment options and innovative techniques to you when crafting your individual wellness plan. Talk to a professional chiropractor today and see how we can reduce pain, improve flexibility and mobility, and give you a new lease on health and on life. Visit https://spineandjointcenterfortlauderdale.com/ for more information.
