Disc Problems & Back Surgery

As you age, your discs may lose fluid and small cracks or lesions may form in the outer walls. This damage may also be caused or accelerated by the vertebral subluxation complex, a spinal distortion chiropractors correct. Your disc may bulge, irritate nerves and cause a lot of pain and discomfort. In severe cases disc damage may affect sitting, standing, walking, or lifting and cause pain when urinating, defacating, sneezing, and coughing. Numbness of the leg or foot or a loss of muscular control may also occur.   

Do You Have A Slipped Disc? 

A disc cannot slip since it is knitted into the vertebrae from both above and below. What sometimes do slip are the vertebrae. Many slipped discs would be more accurately called slipped vertebrae or subluxations. 

Is Back Surgery Affective? 

According to Robert Mendelsohn, MD, “I have seen more than one case in which spinal surgery was avoided by individuals who decided, as a last resort before going under the knife, to see a chiropractor….” His remark has been underlined by many others who have been able to avoid back surgery. Back surgery for herniation should only be attempted as a last resort. That is because back surgery is a dangerous procedure with a high failure rate. In many people the disc is not causing pain; many people have disc degeneration with no symptoms! 

The Chiropractic Record

For many years chiropractic has been able to save people from spinal surgery. There are reports of an MRI or other imaging device revealing a disc herniation or protrusion in the neck or low back which was reduced or completely reabsorbed under chiropractic care. Had they not sought out chiropractic, many of these individuals undoubtedly would have had surgery. In one study 27 patients documented with disc herniation were given chiropractic care. Post-care MRI’s revealed that 63% of the patients had a reduced or completely reabsorbed disc herniation and 78% returned to work. In another study, 21 patients diagnosed by CT scan with lumbar disc herniation. After chiropractic their pain disappeared. 

How to prevent disc problems

Chiropractic has been a blessing to many sufferers of spine and disc problems. Chiropractic is not, however a treatment for conditions. It is care for your entire body. Many times patients visiting their chiropractor for a back or neck problem have been pleasantly surprised at the holistic or whole body effect of chiropractic. Why wait until a disc becomes hot before exploring chiropractic care? Chiropractic care may help prevent your spine from deterioration and herniation. Chiropractors have even helped people relieve the pain and frustration of failed back surgery. You can receive chiropractic care if you have had spinal surgery and it may help in preventing future operations. Please before your problems get worse, have a simple chiropractic spinal checkup. You get your eyes, teeth, and blood pressure checked, why not your spine?