Herniated discs can also be known as bulging or ruptured discs. Your spine is made up of bones known as vertebrae stacked together with a disc between them. These discs are made of an outer, rubbery shell known as an annulus, with gel-like fluid inside known as the nucleus.

Unfortunately, when a disc herniation occurs, the nucleus seeps out of the annulus and compresses surrounding nerves, causing immense amounts of pain.

Some symptoms that indicate you might have a herniated disc include:

• • Pain radiating to the arm, leg, foot, or another extremity
• • Pain that gets worse upon movement, or even coughing or sneezing
• • Weakness or numbness in another part of your body
• • Tingling sensation in your extremities
• • Sciatica caused by disc herniation in the lower back

In addition to symptoms you might be experiencing, certain factors can put you at risk of having a disc herniation, including older age, obesity, osteoarthritis, degeneration, smoking, and genetic predisposition. If you work a job that requires heavy lifting, this can also lead to herniated discs.

People often have disc herniation without realizing it, thinking that their pain is associated with another part of the body. This can make it difficult for people to seek treatment and help from a chiropractor.

There is one key difference between chiropractic treatment sessions and massage treatment sessions. Massage therapy generally focuses on the soft tissues, like the muscles and tendons. Chiropractic care primarily focuses on the alignment of the spine. Our chiropractor may perform a spinal adjustment before your massage therapy session.