Have You Injured a Disc?

Are you living with a slipped disc or other disc injury in Bethesda? If you have a suspicion that your chronic back pain is being caused by a disc injury, or you have received a diagnosis that confirm you are dealing with this kind of issue, you will probably benefit from seeing a professional chiropractor.

Whether the pain is mild or severe, it is important to deal with it promptly so that the issue does not progress to the point of causing more permanent damage. The following article discusses some of the symptoms of disc injuries with the aim of helping you to understand what you are dealing with. It also goes over how chiropractic may give you immediate relief from the pain and discomfort associated with a disc injury, as well as possible long term recovery.

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Disc Injury in Bethesda

The little pads that lie between your vertebrae are called the intervertebral discs. Each of these discs has a tough outer ring and a soft gel-like center. Your disc's job is to both join and to separate your vertebrae from one another. These discs act as cushions or shock absorbers, so that the bones don’t make contact with each other as you move around, carry large objects and bend over. Without the discs you would literally be unable to move our upper torso. Here are a few of the different kinds of disc injuries that make movements of the upper torso painful and difficult:

• A protruding disc occurs when the disc become asymmetrical and the gel is pushed out or bulging.
• A herniated disc is when the disc material has ruptured to the point that the gel pushes outward.
• A disc extrusion is the worst type of disc injury. This is when the gel balloons extensively into the area outside the vertebrae or breaks off from the disc.

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Signs and Symptoms of a Disc Injury

All of the above issues tend to result in considerable back pain, numbness and limitation of range of motion due to the irritation of the nerve roots at the point where the injury occurs and the impact this has on the surrounding tissues. A number of distressing symptoms can arise from this nerve irritation and damage, including but not limited to:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Weak legs or feet
• Leg and foot pain, numbness and tingling (also known as sciatica)
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

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Chiropractic Care for Disc Injury

Chiropractic care in Bethesda for disc injuries has a proven track record of providing both short-term pain relief and long term recovery. A chiropractic treatment involves a thorough assessment of your medical history and x-rays, as well as a physical examination, in order to determine the extent of the disc injury and the appropriate treatment.

The approach that is taken will be individually tailored to your specific issue but will always include gentle adjustments to the spine to relieve pressure on the nerves and deal with the pain and discomfort. If you have a disc injury, call our team at Montgomery County Chiropractic today to receive a consultation and start on the path to recovery.