A bulging disc may be the culprit – can disc decompression help me?
Severe back pain can bring a person’s life to a screeching halt and they are left wondering what they did to cause such severe burning pain. In some cases a person may have been lifting something heavy, moving furniture around or just turned wrong. Sometimes it is unknown what caused the initial injury and it only takes something little like shaving your legs or reaching down to get your purse and Ouch! Our bodies let us know that something is wrong, with the symptom of pain.
What are some symptoms of a disc bulge?
Disc bulges often causes pain with sneezing or coughing and with extreme pain, a person may not be able to bend forward or backwards. When lying on their back, a person cannot lift both legs at the same time without severe shooting pain. In some cases the pain is associated with severe muscle spasms, searing pain that runs down the arms or neck and numbness or a loss of strength.
What are some possible causes of my severe back pain?
There are many issues that can cause severe back pain. Pinched nerves, pulled muscles, bulging or herniated discs, and possibly more, but only an X-ray, CT Scan, MRI, or doctor can diagnose what has occurred, not WebMD. The specially trained Chiropractors and McMillen Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center have the knowledge and equipment to offer a professional diagnose. If they feel that a MRI or CT scan is required, they will outsource the tests and have the information within a few days. Our office has digital x-ray equipment that can help rule out the need for more extensive screening tests and be seen within about 12 seconds of taking the image.
What is the difference between a bulging and herniated disc?
A bulging disc is caused when the disc is pushing outside of its normal space. Think of a hamburger on a bun, and start moving the burger through the bun so it is sticking out. That is what a bulging disc can look like.
A bulging disc is not something that happens with a single twist or pull, but over time lifting improperly, or cumulative injuries this can happen. The body has a way of masking issues with muscle compensation. So naturally, pulled muscle is the first thing people think, but if not checked by a professional, that final twist can bring a grown man to his knees with the worst pain they have ever had. A herniated disc is caused by a crack in the disc and the insides of the disc are pushing their way out. This can cause severe pain due to the crack in the disc itself, and the material that is being pushed through the crack is filling spaces within the spinal column causing pressure and pain.
The good news is research has shown Chiropractic and disc decompression therapy to be very effective and conservative tools in treating this condition. Surgery is always a last resort and the majority of times can be avoided giving the patient a future of health and happiness.