A herniated or bulging disc happens when the outer layer of a spinal disc weakens or tears, allowing the inner gel-like center to press outward on nearby nerves, causing pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and sciatica that radiates down the leg. A chiropractic doctor near Phoenix, AZ treats disc injuries with digital X-rays, a comprehensive exam, non-surgical spinal decompression, and chiropractic adjustments that target the root cause rather than only the symptoms, working alongside care for related conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, and injuries from a car accident.
Is It Safe to See a Chiropractic Doctor for a Herniated Disc?
Yes. Chiropractic care is a natural, non-invasive way to relieve pain associated with disc injuries and help decompress the spine so the disc has the opportunity to heal. This clinic uses non-surgical spinal decompression, an FDA-cleared, non-invasive technique that does more than relieve pain, it supports the body’s healing process. Chiropractic techniques help decompress the spine and ignite the body’s natural healing response, relieving nerve pressure and flooding the disc with nutrients so it can move back toward its proper position.
Members of the Prestigious Top Doctors of Disc Centers of America
What Are the Signs of a Herniated Disc in Your Back?
The most commonly reported symptoms of a herniated or bulging disc include pain, numbness or tingling, weakness in the limbs, sciatica that radiates down the leg as a sharp or burning sensation, nerve irritation or compression, inflammation, reduced mobility, and muscle spasms. In more advanced cases, nerve and spinal cord compression can even affect organ and gland function. Because these symptoms overlap with low back pain and sciatica, a full exam and digital X-rays are the most accurate way to confirm a disc is the true source of pain rather than a muscular or joint issue.
How Our Care Plan Works
Find It
Through our meticulous exam process we are going to find the root cause of your problem and show you exactly what is going on.
Fix It
We will develop a custom plan of attack using our comprehensive approach that won’t just have you feeling better in the short term but will give you the lasting results that you have been looking for.
Forget It
When you aren’t feeling 100% it is hard to focus on much else. Once we get you feeling and functioning better you will be able to forget all about your problem and get back to enjoying your life!
What Is a Herniated or Bulging Disc?
Spinal discs are cushion-like structures between the bones of the spine that work like shock absorbers, protecting the spine and allowing flexibility. A bulging disc occurs when the disc’s outer layer (the annulus fibrosus) weakens and balloons outward, rubbing against adjacent nerves. A disc herniates when the inner gel-like material (the nucleus pulposus) pushes through that outer layer entirely, which usually causes more significant pain and nerve irritation. The most reliable way to confirm a disc injury is a consultation with a chiropractic doctor and, when needed, an MRI.
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
A thorough consultation, examination, and diagnostic imaging are all focused on getting to the root cause of the problem. We perform various exams, including range of motion, orthopedic tests, palpation, and the use of a nerveoscope (spinal temperature), along with taking X-rays to pinpoint the underlying cause and help us tailor care for you. We may recommend an MRI when multiple discs appear to be a problem on X-rays.
Digital X-rays
X-rays allow us to quickly and cost-efficiently see misalignments in the spine, damage in the lower back, and the root cause of the problem, to develop a treatment plan around these root causes.
X-rays are vital as they allow us to identify issues we can’t typically diagnose during an exam, like vertebral position, misalignments, and changes in the bones. They also allow us to assess disc height and the space where the nerves exit the spine to service your body. This information is essential to identify the root cause of your disc injury and develop an effective treatment plan.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Phoenix, AZ
A bulging disc is when the disc’s outer layer weakens and balloons (bulges) outward, rubbing up against adjacent nerves. The disc herniates when the inner gel pushes through the outer layer, which usually causes more significant pain and nerve irritation.
The symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of the disc damage, including:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness in the limbs
- Organ and gland dysfunction due to nerve and spinal cord compression
While the conventional approach targets the symptoms, the chiropractic approach targets the root causes of the disc injury. Chiropractic care focuses on improving function through spinal adjustments. One of the side effects of a chiropractic adjustment is pain relief. We also use targeted therapies, such as non-surgical spinal decompression and physical therapy (EMS), to reduce pressure and inflammation around the affected disc.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Exercises are vital for disc injury relief because they strengthen muscles and improve flexibility while reducing pressure on nerves. They also promote healing by increasing blood flow to the affected area, which helps to manage pain and prevent future injuries.
Weak back muscles leave the spine vulnerable to excessive strain, even during everyday movements, which can ultimately lead to a disc injury. A subluxation can irritate nerves and cause muscle spasms and weakness, decreasing range of motion and affecting disc health.
The best exercises to improve disc health are extension-based exercises focused on pushing the disc forward and away from the spinal cord, like the cobra position in yoga. These exercises are designed to strengthen core muscles, improve spinal stability, and reduce pressure on the spine, which will help injured discs and back pain.
Good posture is crucial for overall health. It will strongly decrease the risk of lower back pain by promoting the use of the spine’s natural protection system and ultimately reducing strain on muscles and joints.
Spinal Decompression in Phoenix, AZ
Spinal discs, also known as intervertebral discs, are involved in low back pain in many ways, such as herniations, degeneration, and irritation of nerve endings. They comprise an outer protective layer of ring-like fibers, called the annulus fibrosus, and an inner gel-filled center, called the nucleus pulposus.
Non-surgical spinal decompression aims to pull apart compressed discs, irritating nearby nerves. This relieves disc pressure and floods the disc with nutrients to promote healing. Spinal decompression is the best way to heal an injured disc.
What Causes a Disc Injury?
Disc injuries typically result from a combination of overuse-related degeneration, trauma, falls, accidents, repetitive movements, and improper lifting technique. A few of the most common causes deserve extra detail:
Repetitive motion and occupational stress can take months or years to cause disc damage, since it is usually a gradual process rather than a sudden event. Jobs at higher risk include construction work, nursing, and warehouse work, because they involve heavy lifting, repetitive motion, awkward postures, and prolonged sitting. Proper lifting technique, ergonomic workstations, regular breaks, good posture, and core strength are among the most effective ways to prevent work-related disc injuries. Anyone injured on the job should seek care right away, report the injury to their employer, and file a workers’ compensation claim.
Heavy lifting is generally defined as regularly lifting over 20 pounds, or performing 1 to 6 repetitions of a given weight in a training context. Lifting can injure a disc by putting excessive pressure and stress on it, leading to a bulge or herniation. Safe lifting means using the legs’ largest muscle group, keeping the back straight, engaging the core, bending the knees, keeping the object close to the body, and avoiding twisting or jerking movements.
Car accidents can damage or worsen spinal discs through the compressing, twisting, and straining forces of impact. Post-accident care often includes passive physical therapy, trigger point injections, in-house medical evaluation, referral for a spinal MRI, chiropractic adjustments, and therapeutic massage. It is essential to begin treatment right away and complete the full plan, since once a personal injury case settles, treatment costs are no longer covered by the at-fault party’s insurance. Full detail on accident-related injuries is available on the car accident injury page.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is the gradual breakdown of spinal discs from wear and tear, often leading to pain, stiffness, and radiating numbness. While genetics play a role, DDD is more common in people who are obese, who smoke, or who work physically demanding jobs. Maintaining a healthy weight, staying active with low-impact exercise, avoiding smoking, and practicing good posture and lifting technique are the most effective prevention strategies. There is no cure for DDD, but chiropractic care and physical therapy can slow or stop its progress, with non-surgical spinal decompression or injections as further options.
Respiratory illness, including the flu and bronchitis, can also contribute to disc injury. Sneezing causes a sudden spike in intra-abdominal pressure that strains the spine, which can aggravate an already vulnerable disc. Avoiding bending over while coughing or sneezing when sick can help protect the spine.
Common Causes of Disc Injury in Phoenix, AZ
Repetitive Motion and Stress
It can take months or years of repetitive strain or “wear and tear” to cause disc damage. It is typically a gradual process rather than a sudden event.
Jobs most at risk for disc injury include but are not limited to, construction work, nursing, and warehouse work because they involve heavy lifting, repetitive motions, awkward postures, and prolonged sitting, all of which will strain the spine.
Proper lifting techniques, ergonomic workstations, regular breaks, and maintaining good posture are some of the best ways to prevent disc injuries, especially at work. Strengthening your core and living a healthy lifestyle are other ways to prevent injuries.
If you experience a disc injury at work, immediately seek medical attention, report the injury to your employer, and file a workers’ compensation claim.
Heavy Lifting
Regularly lifting over 20 lbs qualifies as heavy lifting. In terms of training, if you are doing 1-6 repetitions of a certain weight, that is considered heavy lifting. Lifting can cause disc injuries by putting excessive pressure and stress on the discs, leading to herniated or bulging discs.
To lift safely, it’s important to use your legs’ biggest muscle group. Ideally, you will keep your back straight and engage your core while bending your knees. Remember to keep the object closer to your body and avoid twisting or jerking movements. Using a weightlifting belt can also help prevent injuries.
The best way to correct disc injuries caused by improper lifting is the use of the DRX-9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, along with spinal adjustments and physical therapy.
How Long Does It Take for a Disc Herniation to Heal?
Recovery time depends on the extent of the injury and how long it has gone untreated. The longer a disc injury goes without care, the more time and treatment it typically requires, which is why addressing pain as early as possible is so important. Waiting to treat a disc injury can lead to worsening pain and additional damage, which may eventually require more costly treatment or surgery.
What Is the Treatment Process for a Disc Injury in Phoenix, AZ?
Treatment begins with a comprehensive consultation, exam, and diagnostic imaging focused on finding the root cause of the problem. This includes range-of-motion testing, orthopedic tests, palpation, a nervoscope reading, and digital X-rays, which allow the doctor to see misalignments, disc height changes, and nerve exit space quickly and cost-effectively. An MRI may be recommended when multiple discs appear affected. From there, care may include Gonstead chiropractic adjustments, non-surgical spinal decompression, and physiotherapy and rehabilitation, including extension-based exercises such as the cobra position, which push the disc forward and away from the spinal cord while strengthening the core and improving spinal stability. This clinic is recognized among the Top Doctors of Disc Centers of America and is currently offering a $79 Disc Injury Special that includes a consultation, free MRI review, X-rays, a doctor’s report of findings, and decompression on the second visit. Details are available on the special offers page.
Car Accidents
The forceful impact of a car accident can damage or further damage spinal discs by compressing, twisting, and straining the spine.
After a car accident, our protocol includes:
- Passive physical therapy
- Trigger point injections
- In-house medical evaluation
- Referral for spinal MRI
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Therapeutic massages
It’s essential to get treated right away and follow the treatment plan to the fullest because once the case is settled and you stop treatment, all treatment costs will be out of your pocket and not covered by the party at fault’s insurance. We see countless people who either didn’t do therapy or didn’t complete their therapy, and years later, are worse than ever and suffering in pain from an accident that happened years ago.
We have highly professional and experienced doctors who use the best techniques and forms of treatment to find the root cause of your pains and problems and contain them as best as possible. We are also a one-stop shop, offering medical care, chiropractic care, and physical therapy in one convenient location.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is the degeneration of the spinal discs caused by wear and tear over time. This often leads to pain, stiffness, and possibly radiating pain or numbness into the extremities. Most patients feel pain, stiffness, and potentially radiating pain or numbness in the extremities.
Most commonly, DDD is from wear and tear due to overuse or improper use along with a natural part of aging, but even older and elderly patients will have several healthy discs in their spine while having a handful of degenerative discs, which proves overuse or improper use (posture and biomechanics) is truly the leading cause.
While genetics can play a part in developing degenerative disc disease, it is common in people who are obese, current or past smokers, or those engaged in physically demanding occupations.
Some helpful ways to prevent DDD are maintaining a healthy weight, regularly engaging in low-impact exercises, and not smoking. Other ways include practicing good posture, proper lifting techniques, and core strengthening. While there is no cure, it is vitally important to first slow or even stop its progress with chiropractic care and physical therapy. The next step would be non-surgical spinal decompression or injections.
Respiratory Illness
The flu and bronchitis are the most common respiratory illnesses that cause disc injuries. Sneezing causes a sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure, which can strain the spine. Usually, a combination of factors causes disc injury. Most people have underlying issues in their discs and later get sick, which exacerbates the preexisting conditions and makes them significantly worse.
When you’re sick, don’t bend over while coughing or sneezing to prevent disc injuries. This combination can be extremely impactful on discs.
How Do I Get Started?
A disc injury rarely improves on its own, and early treatment gives the strongest chance of avoiding long-term damage. Patients throughout Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale can learn more about the care team on the meet the doctors page, review the full list of conditions treated, or schedule an appointment directly through the schedule appointment page or by calling (602) 973-1630. The clinic is located at 2735 W Union Hills Dr #102, Phoenix, AZ 85027.
Check Out Our Location Near You
2735 W Union Hills Dr #102, Phoenix, AZ 85027
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractors in Phoenix, AZ, help with disc problems?
Yes! Chiropractic care is a natural, non-invasive way to relieve pain associated with disc injuries and help decompress the spine so the disc has the opportunity to heal.
Is it safe to go to a chiropractor with a herniated disc?
Yes! We use non-surgical spinal decompression, which is an FDA-approved, non-invasive technique that doesn’t just relieve pain; it helps you heal!
Can a chiropractor put a disc back in place?
We have techniques that will help decompress the spine, igniting your body’s natural healing abilities. By relieving nerve pressure and flooding the disc with nutrients, your body can restore the disc to its proper place.
