Bulging Disk and Low Back Pain Treatment Glendale
I was told I have a bulging or herniated disc. What does that mean?
Your spine is made up of several bones, called vertebrae, which are designed to protect your delicate spinal cord and the nerve roots that come off it. These bones are meant to move on the ones above and below, giving your spine the flexibility it needs for you to move freely throughout your day. The discs are the spacers that are located between the vertebrae at each level. The disc is composed of an outer portion made up of gristly layers and a soft gel-like substance in the middle. This gel has the consistency similar to the jelly in a jelly-filled doughnut. Sometimes due to injuries or due to repetitive stresses or years of poor posture, the outer fibers can develop small tears that allow some of the gel to leak out of the center. When this happens, you have a disc bulge or herniation.
Bulging or herniated discs can cause back pain or neck pain as well as pain, numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in your legs, feet, arms or hands. If not properly treated, these symptoms can become permanent.
In their attempt to deal with the symptoms resulting from a bulging or herniated disc, many people turn to drugs or surgery. Painkillers only mask the pain temporarily. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) have been linked to several health conditions, such as stomach ulcers, liver and kidney damage, as well as heart disease. Opioids are highly addictive and result in thousands of overdose deaths in the United States every year. Spinal surgery is many times not the answer either, as the failure rate for low back surgery is 50% for the first surgery and significantly higher for subsequent surgeries.
Bulging or herniated discs are almost always accompanied by another condition called a subluxation. A subluxation is when one or more of the bones in your spine become misaligned and do not move properly. When this happens it compresses, stretches or otherwise irritates the delicate nerve structures it was meant to protect.
Trinity Chiropractic offers a drug-free, non-surgical approach to help you. Dr. David Iszler takes a unique approach to helping you get over your pain. When you meet with Dr. Iszler, he will do an in-depth consultation to find out what is contributing to your problem. He will then do a chiropractic examination and take x-rays, if needed, to get to the cause. If more advanced imaging is required, such as MRI, he will order that as well. He will go over his findings in detail so you understand where your pain is coming from and go over his recommended action plan to correct the problem causing your pain so you can get you back to doing what you love to do. If yours is not a chiropractic case, he will help you get to the right place for your condition.
Dr. Iszler is Advanced Proficiency Certified in the newest technique in chiropractic called Torque Release Technique (TRT). Using this technique, he will adjust your spine and correct the misalignment without the uncomfortable twisting and popping that most people associate with chiropractic adjustments. Correcting your subluxations helps decrease the irritation to the nerves that cause your pain. Depending on your condition and situation, other treatment options are available to assist in correcting the underlying cause of your pain. Electrical stimulation can help to decrease pain and muscle tension. Spinal decompression is effective at decompressing the discs, joints and nerves in your low back as well as improving mobility. Our state-of-the-art Class IV deep tissue therapeutic laser helps to decrease pain and inflammation as well as speeding along your body’s natural healing process. Because we want to correct your underlying condition rather than just chasing your pain, we also incorporate spinal and postural rehabilitation into your care. This addresses the structures that support your spine to speed your healing process along and make these changes more permanent.
Call us today to schedule a consultation so you can get back to enjoying life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes disc bulges or disc herniations?
Disc bulges and herniations occur when the gel-like substance in the inner portion of your
disc leaks out through small tears in the fibrous outer portion of the disc. This is often due to
injuries, repetitive stresses and years of poor posture. Disc bulges and herniations are frequently accompanied by a spinal misalignment, known as a subluxation.
disc leaks out through small tears in the fibrous outer portion of the disc. This is often due to
injuries, repetitive stresses and years of poor posture. Disc bulges and herniations are frequently accompanied by a spinal misalignment, known as a subluxation.
How do I know what is causing my pain?
Dr. Iszler will do an in-depth consultation along with a chiropractic examination and x-rays, if
necessary, to determine if your pain is due to a subluxation, disc problem, or something else.
necessary, to determine if your pain is due to a subluxation, disc problem, or something else.
Can you order a MRI if needed?
Yes. If Dr. Iszler determines that a MRI is needed to further evaluate your discs, he can order it for you.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?
No. You do not need a referral from another doctor to see a chiropractor.
Do you take x-rays?
Depending on what the doctor finds during your examination, he will take x-rays if necessary. We have on-site digital x-rays so you don’t have to go anywhere else to have them taken.
Do the adjustments hurt?
No. Dr. Iszler uses the newest technique in chiropractic, called Torque Release Technique. This technique utilizes a small handheld adjusting instrument, called the Integrator, to gently adjust the one bone that needs it without twisting and popping.
Do you offer spinal decompression?
Yes. Our spinal decompression table provides gentle traction to decompress the discs, joints and nerves in your low back without the uncomfortable straps and harnesses that typical tables require.
Do you offer laser therapy for disc problems?
Yes. Our Class IV deep tissue therapeutic laser helps to decrease pain and inflammation, increase oxygenation of the tissues and speeds up your body’s natural healing process.
What makes Trinity Chiropractic different?
We use the newest technique in chiropractic, called Torque Release Technique (TRT) to gently adjust your spine without twisting and popping. We also combine this with spinal and postural rehabilitation to speed your healing along and make your changes more permanent.