Bothered by Neck Pain? You May Have a Herniated Disc

Are you experiencing neck pain but aren’t sure where it began? Is neck, shoulder, or back pain disrupting your daily tasks? You might have a herniated disc. The experts at AllCare Chiropractic are here to help. 

Learn more about how disc herniation causes neck pain and how you can effectively treat it. 

Herniated disc 101

As you move throughout your day, you probably don’t give much thought to the complexities of your spinal column. 

Responsible for mobility and keeping your body upright, your spine consists of 33 bones known as vertebrae and is split into five parts — the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sections, as well as the sacrum and coccyx bones. 

The five sections of the spine assist in protecting nerves and veins transporting signals to your brain. Separating each vertebra are thin discs that serve as shock absorbers to help guard against injury and to sustain your spine’s condition as you age. 

If these discs rupture, bulge, or slip out of place, they can cause many issues, including pain in your back, neck, shoulder, jaw, leg, or groin area. The specific issues you may experience as the result of a herniated disc depend on the location of the disc affected. 

Symptoms of a herniated disc can include numbness, tingling, radiating or shooting pain, and weakness.

How to tell if you have a herniated disc

Pinpointing the cause of your neck pain can be difficult without a physical examination, but the location of additional pain is a good indication. Neck pain caused by a herniated disc typically presents with further pain in the shoulders, arms, and hands. 

If you feel neck pain without additional symptoms, a herniated disc is an unlikely culprit. Of course, consulting with your chiropractor, physical therapist, or physician is always best to make the ultimate determination. That way, you can get the proper treatment. 

Herniated disc treatment

For most patients, pain from a herniated disc resolves independently or with minimal medical supervision. Just as easily as a disc can slip out of place in your spine, it can slip right back into its rightful spot, sometimes with a bit of help from a chiropractor.

However, there are more severe cases that require medical intervention. Treatment for a herniated disc may involve:

• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Physiotherapy
• Manual manipulation
• Pain management
• Rehabilitation
• Surgery 

After a physical examination and diagnosis, your physician, physical therapist, or chiropractor works with you to plot the best course of action for the most effective treatment. 

Don’t suffer from pain needlessly. If you’re experiencing neck pain, AllCare Chiropractic can help. Schedule your consultation by phone or with our online scheduling tool today.