Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment For Bulged and Slipped Discs

When you’re suffering from back pain, whether it’s caused by a slipped disc, bulging disc, or degenerative disc disease, treatment from your Tacoma chiropractor can provide relief and an improved quality of life. There are many reasons that disc problems develop, and they can impact any part of your spine. Fortunately, comprehensive chiropractic care offers multiple options for addressing the underlying causes of your symptoms and getting you feeling better fast.

Slipped Disc and Other Types of Disc Problems

The nature of your pain and the details of when it occurs will be important in determining your diagnosis and finding the proper course of treatment. Lower back pain, in particular, is frequently the result of a slipped disc or degenerative disc disease because that part of your spine is responsible for bearing the most weight.

Over time, this can lead to a breakdown or diminishment of the disc, as found in degenerative disc disease, leaving less room between the vertebrae for the nerves to pass through. When there is not enough space around the nerve, it is compressed and can become painful, with symptoms ranging from pain at the site of the compression, to pain that radiates into the adjacent part of the body, such as an arm or leg.

Bulging or herniated discs can result from degenerative disc disease or from some other type of injury. They involve a break or tear in the outer annulus fibrosis layer of the disc, which allows some of the fluid from the inner nucleus pulposus to leak out. This fluid can irritate the nerve, causing pain on its own, and the loss of fluid also means the disc is taking up less vertical space, which can lead to physical compression of the nerve as well.

Treatment for Disc Problems from Your Chiropractor in Tacoma

When you visit your chiropractor in Tacoma for treatment of a slipped disc or other types of disc problem, the doctor will first complete a physical exam and collect information about your medical history. This allows the chiropractor to determine what is actually causing your back pain, and so to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Depending on the precise nature of your disc problem, your chiropractor may use a combination of spinal adjustments, massage therapy, instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy, ultrasound, and other techniques. Cold laser therapy is an option in some cases, and your chiropractor will also often instruct you on exercises and stretches you can perform at home to help build on the progress you make during your in-office sessions.

When you’re suffering from any type of back pain, you don’t want to wait to find relief. Call our offices today at  253-472-3365 to learn more about the types of services and care we provide or to schedule an appointment.