We use our backs for everything: walking, sitting, twisting, bending, and more. When we experience back pain of any sort, it’s no wonder that it can majorly impact your life. Herniated discs are an issue that many people can experience without any pain or symptoms, but in other cases, they can cause quite a bit of pain and difficultly going about your day-to-day life. Herniated discs can cause pain not just in your back, but also in your arms and legs.

Here’s what you need to know about herniated discs, potential causes and risk factors, as well as some warning signs that you may have one. We’ll also touch on what you can do if you’re experiencing this condition. 

What Is A Herniated Disc?

Your spinal discs provide cushioning and support between your vertebrae. They let your spine move freely as you walk and bend and lift. They absorb shock to the spine and protect its bones. 

Spinal discs have two parts: a tough outer ring and a soft inner portion. They’re often compared to jelly doughnuts, because of their harder exterior and gelatinous inner part. If you have a herniated disc, this means that your spinal disc has been injured or become weakened in a way that causes the inner portion of the spinal disc to protrude through the exterior. 

Herniated discs are also called slipped discs, ruptured discs, or bulging discs. They’re among the most common causes of pain in your back, neck, and/or legs. They usually heal on their own, but in some cases, they can require more intensive treatment and even surgery in the worst cases. 

What Causes Herniated Discs?

This condition happens when the outer layer of your spinal disc weakens and cracks and the inner part of it pushes through. If the inner part of your spinal disc presses on spinal nerves, this can cause other issues.

This can happen through the normal wear and tear of aging, known as disc degeneration. This is because as you age, there’s less water in your body, which causes it to be less flexible and more prone to injury.

In many cases, people don’t know what caused their slipped disc. In some cases, this can happen as a result of an injury, such as falling on your back.

Some of the factors that increase your risk of getting a herniated disc include:

• Aging, because of lessened water in the body
• Smoking, because it lessens the supply of oxygen to the discs
• Excess weight, because it puts extra stress on your spinal discs
• Frequent driving, because it puts pressure on your spine
• A sedentary lifestyle, because you’re not up and moving
• Physically demanding jobs, because of the repetitive lifting, twisting, and use of your back
• Genetics, because some people have a predisposition to getting slipped discs

Telltale Signs You May Have A Herniated Disc

It is entirely possible for you to have a herniated disc without experiencing any pain or symptoms. Depending on where in the spine your problem is, the symptoms may vary. For instance, if it is towards the top of your spine, you are more likely to have arm problems. If it is towards the base of your spine, you’re more likely to have leg problems. Symptoms usually worsen the more that you move and improve the more that you allow yourself to rest.

Some of the telltale signs that you may have a herniated disc include:

• Pain while sitting
• Radiating pain into your leg
• Pain and numbness on one side of your body
• Tingling in your hips and legs
• Weakness in your legs
• Pain while walking
• Arm pain, numbness, or weakness
• Pain that occurs/is worsened by activities
• Struggling to bend or straighten your back
• Neck pain
• Lower back pain
• Experiencing relief from pain when you rest

Because not all slipped discs are symptomatic and the above symptoms could be the cause of a variety of different issues, you can schedule an appointment with a chiropractor in order to diagnose the issue.

What To Do If You Have A Herniated Disc

In many cases, herniated discs will go away on their own with proper rest and some over-the-counter treatments, like pain killers. If your pain does not go away, you can schedule an appointment with a chiropractor so that they can relieve the pressure on your discs and reposition any bulging discs. Chiropractors have a variety of treatment methods that they utilize in order to restore your spine to proper alignment. 

Elite Chiropractic provides chiropractic care for herniated discs. If you’re experiencing pain, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Our complimentary consultations can identify the root cause of your pain and help us formulate a treatment plan that can restore your spinal health and improve your quality of life. 

When people think of chiropractors, they typically just think about back pain and spinal alignment problems, such as sciatica, scoliosis, and the like. It’s true, chiropractors help with all of those things. However, many people are surprised to learn that chiropractors help with many other issues in addition to back-related ones. This is because chiropractors are experts when it comes to your musculoskeletal system and central nervous system – both of which can have all sorts of different problems.

Here are some things chiropractors help with that may surprise you. Chiropractic care is a natural, non-invasive treatment method that can help you both recover from and avoid all sorts of different injuries. Let’s delve into the realm of chiropractic care and show you how chiropractors help with more than just back pain.

#1. Pregnancy

Pregnant people face all sorts of challenges and changes in their bodies throughout pregnancy. Chiropractors help with pregnancy in a variety of ways, from alleviating the pressure on your spine (expected) to helping you have a smoother delivery (unexpected). This is because chiropractic care promotes proper pelvis alignment, which can decrease the amount of time you are in labor, as well as the amount of pain you’re in throughout the process. 

Additionally, because your body changes so much during pregnancy, it’s natural that your center of gravity changes too, to accommodate your growing belly. Chiropractors help with pregnancy by keeping your spine in alignment throughout all these changes, which can help you avoid the back and hip pain that so often plagues pregnant people. 

#2. Headaches

Chances are, if you suffer from regular headaches, you’re probably taking painkillers on the regular. While painkillers can be helpful in the short term, such as with menstrual cramps, if you’re relying on them on a regular basis, it’s likely that they’re just masking the symptoms rather than helping with the root cause of your headaches. Headaches of many different variants from tension headaches to migraines can result from spinal misalignments in your neck. 

Thus, if you’re a frequent sufferer of headaches, you may want to schedule an appointment with your local chiropractor. Chiropractors help with headaches through realigning your spine and chiropractic massage. 

#3. Stress And Anxiety

If you frequently suffer from stress and anxiety, your instinct is probably to see a mental health professional rather than a chiropractor. You certainly should, especially if stress and anxiety are negatively impacting your life! Additionally, you may consider seeing a chiropractor. Chiropractors help with stress and anxiety by relieving muscle tension with treatment methods such as chiropractic massage. This can help your body to relax from being in fight or flight mode.

Chiropractors can also recommend lifestyle changes, stretches, and relaxation techniques that you can utilize to help manage your stress and anxiety. 

#4. Low Energy

Have you been feeling lethargic lately? This could be the result of inflammation from tense joints and muscles. Chiropractors help with your energy levels by reducing inflammation with adjustments and massage, which alleviates the pain and tension. When your body is in alignment, it’s easier for your body to provide you with the energy you need to get through the day. 

Plus, if you’re in pain or have restricted movement, chances are that you don’t want to do much anyway. With everything back in alignment and pain gone, you can get back to enjoying your life to the fullest. 

#5. Digestion

Your gut health is so important to your overall health. It can impact everything, from your mood to your energy and more. Digestive issues can be very unpleasant, ranging from gas to acid reflux to heartburn and more. Chiropractors help with your digestion by restoring your body to proper alignment, which improves its overall function. This is because if your spine is out of alignment, this can cause your nerves to be unable to signal acid production, ergo leading to digestive issues. 

With chiropractor care, you can keep everything running smoothly and avoid such unpleasant problems.

#6. Sleep

Chances are, if your spine is out of alignment, this can impact your sleep. This is because when you’re in pain or have a tense back, it’s difficult for your body to sleep properly. Sleep is vital to your overall health, as poor sleep can negatively impact both your physical and your mental health in a wide variety of ways. Chiropractors help you sleep better by easing said tension and pain.

Our Chiropractors Help With Many Issues

Elite Chiropractic provides professional chiropractic care for all sorts of conditions, from pregnancy to headaches to work injuries to auto accidents and more. To schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!

If you’ve suffered a workplace injury, it’s crucial that you obtain treatment as soon as possible. Workplace injuries are very common, with people across industries suffering from all sorts of different work injuries, from back pain, to carpal tunnel syndrome, to slips and falls, and more. Chiropractors can help with work injuries in a variety of ways. Here’s what you need to know about common work injuries, what to do after suffering a work injury, and how chiropractors can help with work injuries. 

Common Work Injuries

Work injuries can happen in many different industries, not only the physically active. The types of common work injuries vary in severity from mild to severe. 

Some of the most common work injuries include:

• Slips and falls
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Falls from ladders or another height
• Work-related vehicular accidents
• Falling objects
• Overexertion

These injuries can occur in workplaces such as warehouses to office buildings, as repetitive motion injuries can occur both from typing all day to lifting boxes. These common work injuries don’t only happen to those who work in warehouses or offices, but across many different industries, such as drivers, cleaners, cooks, and more. Chiropractors can help with work injuries such as these. 

Work injuries can range from annoyances to severely impacting your life and your ability to do your job. People can end up needing to take a lot of time off of work to recover and end up with unplanned expenses and loss of wages, which many people simply can’t afford. Chiropractors can help with work injuries by alleviating your pain and speeding up your body’s natural healing process so that you can recover and so that your body is better able to prevent future injury. 

What To Do After A Work Injury

Employers that employ one or more employees are required to carry workers compensation in almost all states. If you have questions about workers compensation, it’s best to talk with your employer about it. If you have sustained an injury, such as something falling on you and hurting you, while on the job, it’s very important that you report it right away. 

This is because if you wait too long, a workers compensation claim could be denied and symptoms that weren’t there initially could show up or worsen, leading to complications. If you file a workers compensation claim and your employer is being difficult, you may need to hire a lawyer in order to obtain the benefits you deserve. They will be able to gather evidence and build a strong case, so that you can focus on recovering while they focus on getting you that compensation.

After suffering a work injury, you’ll want to seek out medical treatment. Depending on the severity of the injury, this could be immediately or it could be within the following few days. Sooner is better than later, so that you can help your body recover and stave off potential complications. Who you see for your injury can depend on the type of injury sustained. Chiropractors can help with work injuries of many varieties, and many insurances and workers compensation cover chiropractic care.

How Chiropractors Can Help With Work Injuries

You shouldn’t have to live with pain. Chiropractors can help with work injuries by getting to the root cause of it, rather than merely masking the symptoms. The type of chiropractic care you receive will vary depending on the type of workplace injury you suffered. Chiropractic treatments for work injuries vary from spinal adjustments to massage to decompression and more.

When you see a chiropractor, they’ll conduct an evaluation in order to determine the cause of your injury and how best to treat it. Every body is different, so it’s important to be open and honest with your chiropractor. What works wonders for one person may not help you at all. Chiropractors can adjust their treatment methods as need be, personalizing your care to you. 

Some of the ways in which chiropractors can help with work injuries include:

• Spinal adjustments
• Spinal decompression
• Spinal traction therapy
• Class IV laser therapy
• Vibration plate therapy
• Stretching
• Recommendations for lifestyle modifications
• And more

With how chiropractors can help with work injuries, you can restore your range of motion and body functions so that you can heal sooner and get back to work.

Have You Suffered A Work Injury?

Elite Chiropractic provides professional chiropractic services. Our chiropractors can help with work injuries and will personalize your treatment according to your specific needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.