Our Everett Chiropractor Explains A Herniated Disk Of The Lower Back
The vertebral column of the spine is held together by a series of thick, rounded, flexible disks that protect the bones and facilitate ease of movement in the joints. They basically operate as shock absorbers to hold the bones in place and keep them from rubbing against one another. These intervertebral disks are filled with a gelatinous-like fluid that helps to maintain the disks’ flexibility.
A herniation occurs when damage to one of the vertebrae of the spine causes a rupture in the outer wall of the disk, allowing the gelatinous fluid to seep out and put pressure on the surrounding nerves. This pressure often results in painful sensations that may radiate out to various areas of the body. The lower back is the most commonly affected section of the spine when a disk becomes herniated.
What Causes Herniated Disks?
The damage that occurs due to herniation can be caused by a wide variety of factors. In many cases, disks naturally begin to dry out and lose flexibility due to aging and normal wear and tear. The loss of flexibility makes the disk more susceptible to ruptures or injury. In addition to aging, there are many other factors that may play a role in causing herniated disks. Smoking, certain health conditions such as arthritis, obesity, lifting heavy objects and repeatedly performing activities that create a strain on the back are all on the list of things that increase a person’s vulnerability to experiencing a lower back herniation.
What are the Symptoms of a Herniated Disk?
Symptoms can vary from person to person, depending on their age, general health and level of physical fitness. Some people, who have a higher tolerance for pain or who are very physically active, may take longer to register that there is discomfort in occurring in their body that’s outside of normal range. Some of the most common indicators of a herniated disk are a tingling or numb sensation in the lower extremities, chronic back pain, Sciatica, weakness in the leg and foot or pain that radiates from the buttocks area all the way down to the legs, ankles, and feet.
Chiropractic Treatment for a Herniated Disk
One of the most beneficial aspects of using chiropractic care to treat herniated disks is that the focus is on finding the underlying cause of the herniation and not just on masking the pain with temporary solutions. Chiropractors examine the entire musculoskeletal structure of your body in order to determine problem areas that can be treated to not only heal the herniation and alleviate pain but to also use techniques that help to prevent future occurrences of the problem. Because of its commitment to a more holistic approach to healing whenever possible, chiropractic care is an excellent choice for pain relief treatment as well as for ongoing health and physical maintenance.
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