After
analyzing this information, the chiropractor determines if the patient has
suffered a disc injury. The crucial diagnostic question is, "what type of
disc injury has occurred?" It is the answer to this question that will
determine the chiropractic approach to treatment or referral.
There
are some patients who are not good candidates for conservative chiropractic
care. For example, if there is suspicion of a cauda equina syndrome in which
loss of bladder control accompanies a disc injury, this is a medical emergency
not treated by chiropractic.
If
there are unusual neurological findings with advanced loss of strength,
sensation, and reflexes, the chiropractor will refer the patient to a spine
surgeon (spine specialist) prior to initiating conservative care.
Most
disc conditions do not fall into these more extreme categories. The great
majority of disc injuries involve some degree of bulging of the disc. The
"slipped" disc can be a slight, even temporary, push against the
nerve or the spinal cord, or it can be a more definite mild, moderate, or
marked bulge. Frank herniated discs occur when a fragment from the central part
of the disc breaks completely through the fibrous rings.
Whatever
the category of disc bulge, the low back pain, leg pain, and muscle spasms
require examination and, in most cases, a period of conservative, non-surgical
care prior to any consideration of surgical intervention.
What
is the chiropractic approach to conservative care of the disc?
First we should address a misconception. Chiropractors do not attempt to "pop a disc back in place" with forceful adjusting or manipulative techniques. There is a form of disc insult to a nerve with low back instability, often resulting in a quite dramatic lean of the low back with spasm that responds well to traditional chiropractic adjusting. However, all other disc conditions are treated in chiropractic with a gentle program of low-force techniques.
First we should address a misconception. Chiropractors do not attempt to "pop a disc back in place" with forceful adjusting or manipulative techniques. There is a form of disc insult to a nerve with low back instability, often resulting in a quite dramatic lean of the low back with spasm that responds well to traditional chiropractic adjusting. However, all other disc conditions are treated in chiropractic with a gentle program of low-force techniques.
Another
misconception is that chiropractic care involves a few quick treatments, again
usually seen as popping the back, which will fix the disc. Instead,
chiropractors who treat disc conditions integrate their low force adjusting
techniques in an organized protocol of evaluation and treatment.
Throughout
a program of chiropractic care for disc conditions, patients are asked
questions regarding their progress. Evaluation of progress using neurological
and chiropractic tests based on comparison with the initial findings are
essential aspects of this chiropractic protocol.
If a
patient is not responding to conservative care using this protocol, the
chiropractor will refer the patient for imaging studies and spine specialist
consultation.
HealthPoint Chiropractic Clinic in Irwin
12381 Route 30W Suites B
Irwin, PA 15642
www.healthpointclinic.com
Phone: 724-864-6560
