Symptoms
Herniated Disc
What is it?
Discs are the shock absorbers between the vertebrae. A herniated disc is when part of the disc moves out of place and can press on or irritate a nerve root. It is most common in the lower back and the neck.
A herniation on an MRI doesn't always explain pain: disc changes are very common in people with no symptoms at all, and more so with age (Brinjikji et al., American Journal of Neuroradiology, 2015). What matters is your symptoms and the examination. Most painful herniations improve within weeks or months without surgery, and many are reabsorbed on their own.
Common signs
- Lower back or neck pain that spreads into the leg or arm
- Tingling or numbness in a specific area of the leg or hand
- Pain that gets worse sitting, coughing or bending
- Sometimes, weakness in the leg or arm
How chiropractic care helps
First-line treatment is conservative: staying active, exercise and manual therapy. At the clinic we adapt the technique to your case, with gentle mobilisation and no forceful techniques at the affected level when there are signs of nerve compression.
We work on the mobility of the rest of your spine and hips, and give you progressive exercises to rebuild your tolerance for sitting, walking and lifting. Before starting we review any scans you have and check strength, reflexes and sensation.
When to see a doctor first
- Weakness that is getting worse in the leg, foot, arm or hand
- Numbness around the groin or changes in bladder or bowel control
- Clumsy hands or unsteadiness walking (with neck herniations)
- Unbearable pain that nothing eases
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