Herniated Discs Care in Vienna, Virginia (VA)

Back or neck pain can interfere with your day-to-day life like going to work, exercise routines, and play time. Often this pain results from damaged, bulging, or even herniated discs. Research shows that herniated discs affect people in their thirties and forties and are more common in men than women. But healing is possible and is achieved better using non-invasive care methods.

At Whole Body Health, we focus on alleviating bulging and herniated disc symptoms such as:

• Low back discomfort
• Neck and back pain
• Sciatic nerve pain
• Spinal tenderness and stiffness
• Tingling or burning sensations in the arms and fingers or in the legs and feet

If you live in Vienna, Virginia (VA), contact us today for relief from bulging or herniated discs. Our chiropractor, Dr. David Gustitus, will help you heal naturally and alleviate your pain.

A herniated disc is a health condition that occurs along the spine, most commonly in the lower back or neck region. It can arise when there is a rupture or tear in the protective rings around your vertebral discs allowing the inner disc material to escape outside of the disc. You may experience symptoms when this rupture occurs or when the disc material compresses the nerves surrounding the disc.

Common Causes of Herniated Disc

This condition can develop as a result of:

• Long-standing spinal distortions
• Improper lifting of heavy objects
• Car accidents
• Stretching the wrong way

Symptoms Associated With Herniated Disc

You can experience symptoms depending on the location of the herniated disc. But the most common symptoms include:

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Pins and needles
• Burning
• Tingling
• Pain

Some patients may experience numbness in their extremities indicating a severe amount of damage to the surrounding nerves.These cases can still be helped, but are more urgent and need to be addressed as soon as possible.

In other cases, some patients can develop issues with their ability to control their bladder or bowel functions. This is a medical emergency and requires an immediate trip to the ER.

Spinal disc issues are painful and cause symptoms of numbness, tingling, and weakness. Chiropractic treatment is a great drug-free, non-invasive option for dealing with a herniated disc. Our chiropractor, Dr. Gustitus, will diagnose if you have a herniated disc based on your medical history or a physical exam. In some cases, in addition to an x-ray, he may recommend a CT or MRI scan to pinpoint the root of the problem.

Chiropractors are experienced in dealing with herniated discs. Thus, they know the things to consider when making a diagnosis. After the chiropractor performs a spinal examination, he will develop a support plan based on your health and preferences. Some of the care techniques include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Dr. Gustitus uses advanced digital x-ray analysis to compliment his hands-on evaluation to diagnose precisely where and how adjustments are needed in the spine. Without precision, movements of already misaligned vertebrae in the wrong direction can cause increased pain or delay healing. Combining his Palmer College of Chiropractic and Chiropractic Biophysics training, he incorporates gentle and specific adjustments to lower inflammation, decrease pain, increase joint mobility, and to promote healing of the disc and damaged nerves.

Flexion-distraction

This chiropractic technique aims to reduce pressure on the disc. It involves lightly applying force to the affected area to stimulate the disc. This allows the disc to get back into its correct position. This method will help to reduce pain because it moves the disc away from the nerves.

Pelvic blocking

The main aim of the pelvic blocking technique is to stretch the lumbar and pelvic area to relieve disc and nerve pressure. Our chiropractor places cushioned wedges under the pelvic or lumbar areas to open up the nerve pathways and decompress the spine and discs. Gentle exercises accompany this to release the disc pressure from the nerve it may be pressing.

Laser Therapy

Cold laser or low level laser therapy (LLLT) is an extremely safe,well researched and FDA approved therapeutic instrument that helps increase cellular energy and promotes healing and repair of the tissues exposed to it such as nerves, discs, joints, or muscles. These sessions are painless, last for 5-10 minutes, and can be added to other therapies simultaneously.

Nutritional Supplements

Disc, nerve, and joint inflammation and subsequent repair are greatly affected by the nutritional status of the patient. Dr. Gustitus will recommend appropriate nutritional supplements and formulas to help decrease systemic inflammation, promote soft tissue repair, and provide the necessary nutrients for body function.

Are you suffering from a herniated disc? Contact our very own Dr. Gustitus at Whole Body Health in Vienna, Virginia (VA), and learn how chiropractic can improve your quality of life.

References

1. https://vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2017/09/04/improvement-in-a-patient-with-disc-protrusion-and-extruded-fragment-following-subluxation-based-chiropractic-care-a-case-study-selective-review-of-the-literature/
2. https://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754(14)00034-7/fulltext
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9567239/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/

At Whole Body Health, we offer corrective chiropractic care for pain relief, degenerative joint, muscle and nerve conditions, and functional medicine for whole body wellness. Additionally, we offer affordable wellness care plans for those looking to continue to remain healthy once their problem is corrected. Book an appointment with us today!