Lower back pain affects millions of Americans every year, usually caused by injury, improper posture, or lack of exercise. Occasionally it can be dealt with, with bed rest, stretching, or a heating pad. But sometimes it can be the result of a bulging disc, and many people may not even realize it.
What is a bulging disc? How does it occur? And can non-surgical spinal decompression fix a bulging disc?
Join me as we answer these questions and explore non-surgical spinal decompression as a treatment for a bulging disc.
What is a Bulging Disc?
A bulging disc is a condition that usually develops as we age and over long periods of time. Though younger people can still be afflicted with bulging discs too. A bulging disc also called a herniated, or protruding disc occurs when the soft tissue known as spinal discs between the spine becomes compressed. The spine consists of a series of vertebrae which are a series of interlocking bones. Vertebrae provide the spine with support when moving or bending your back.
Spinal discs act as shock absorbers that prevent vertebrae from rubbing against each other. Compression of the spinal disc can cause it to bulge and can lead to damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots which can cause reduced mobility and cause pain.
Bulging discs occur most commonly in the lower lumbar spine, so the pain and discomfort is usually felt in your lower back.
Symptoms of a Bulging Disc
Early identification of a bulging disc is only possible with medical testing which shows any changes in the shape and positioning of the spinal disc. And there are very few early symptoms to suggest your spine is being compressed to the point of herniating a disc. Depending on the severity and location in the spine, the symptoms of a bulging disc can fluctuate in severity. Many people have little to no initial symptoms, though as the disc degenerates and bulges a patient may have symptoms including:
- Back muscle spasms
- Weakness in your legs and feet
- Sciatica
- Poor coordination
- Reduced mobility and difficulty walking
- Reduced control over bowel and bladder
- Increased pain when moving
If you have had some of these symptoms contact your primary care provider to see if you have a bulging disc. If you have lost control of your bowel or bladder you may require immediate attention as this can happen when too much pressure builds up the spinal nerve roots, which is considered a medical emergency.
How can Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression help?
Can non-surgical spinal decompression heal a bulging disc?
As previously stated, building discs often occur when the spine is under too much pressure and begins to compress. Before treatment begins information including height, weight, and spinal condition, how long they’ve had their symptoms, and how much pain they are in is analyzed so the computer can monitor your body’s reactions. Non-surgical decompression therapy works by securing the patient on a specialized decompression table called spinal traction. The patient is fitted with a harness that holds the abdomen and the pelvis. The spinal traction then stretches and relaxes the patient’s back intermittently to achieve the perfect amount of tension needed to gently decompress the spine.
Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy can aid in correcting a bulging disc or a disc that has slipped out of place completely. As the spine is being decompressed, a small amount of negative pressure allows the spinal disc to naturally return to its original position.
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a gentle, non-invasive way to help heal your pain so you can get back to your life.
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Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.
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