Disc Problems
Chiropractic will restore better motion and position to spinal joints which will reduce disc bulging. This will also decrease the inflammation so that the healing process can begin.
Most people are unaware that the discs between the vertebrea do not have a blood supply and that they entirely rely on the maintenance of full range of normal motion to get nutrition and remain healthy. Without normal motion, the discs will inevitably degenerate. This is one of the most common forms of degeneration or premature aging of the spine. What may initially feel like an achy back indeed may be a signal that degeneration is starting.
The research on chiropractic and disc problems is compelling. An MRI study was done with chiropractic patients who had either Cervical (neck) or Lumbar (low back) Disc Herniations. Note: a disc herniation is often misleadingly called a slipped disc. In 63% of the cases there was either a reduction in size of the herniation, or the disc herniation had resorbed completely! Overall 80% of the cases had good clinical outcomes, and 78% of the patients returned to their preinjury occupations. Interestingly, chiropractic care was shown to not only help resolve the patients symptoms but also resulted in an anatomical reduction in the disc hernation.
"I have been treated for bulging discs in lower back. My lower back ached most of the time. It was very difficult getting up and down out of a sitting position. Hard time doing house work. I had previously tried PT and epidurals. These helped somewhat but didn't last very long. I would say I started feeling better after 8 or 9 treatments. The treatments were gentle and I would recommend this treatment to anyone." TP
Reference:
BenEliyahu DJ. MRI and clinical followup study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniation. JMPT 1996;19(9):597-606.
