Bulging Discs and Chiropractic
If you have experienced a herniated disc, you’ll know how debilitating they can be. These spinal discs are relatively small structures that can cause hugely painful problems – particularly when they are bulging. If you are experiencing a bulging disc, we can help alleviate some of the pain associated with this.
What is a Bulging Disc?
Not to be confused with a herniated disc (which is equally as painful), a bulging disc occurs when it bulges in a place the outer wall of the disc has become weak.
If you think about a spinal disc like a small water balloon. It has a tougher outer layer, but the inside is soft and almost like a liquid or jelly. When a disc is herniated, the disc can leak due to a crack in the outer layer. When a disc is bulging, the outer layer remains intact, but can bulge in an area that becomes weak.
What Can Cause a Bulging Disc?
There are several ways you can develop a bulging disc. It is often thought that this is a normal part of the aging process, but it is certainly not the case. With aging comes less muscle density. The weaker your muscles, the more susceptible to injuries you can become. Things like chronic dehydration, repetitive movements, heavy lifting, improper form while lifting or working out, genetics and obesity are some of the most common causes of the weakening outer layer of your discs.
Signs and Symptoms
- Radiating pain in your limbs
- Numbness in your limbs or extremities
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling in your arms or legs
- Changes in your bowel or bladder function
- Pain when moving your neck
Symptoms will vary depending on where the bulge is in your spine, the higher it is the more you will experience symptoms in your neck, arms, and fingers. The lower it is, the more you will experience symptoms in your back, bowels, bladder and legs. A Chiropractor will first determine where the bulge is located, and can use both physical exams along with a referral for MRI imaging for further details if required.
We Are Qualified to Help
Chiropractors use a non-invasive and natural treatment plan when it comes to your diagnosis and care. This plan will be a direct result of gathering information on your family history, activity levels, and possibly imaging.
We will examine your entire spine to determine if there is any suspected joint dysfunction or restriction, along with muscular issues that can be caused by historical injuries that can add stress to the way you walk or sit.
There will be a plan for adjustments to relieve the bulge, along with a plan to address any restricting movements that could have led to the cause of the bulging disc. Overall, your entire body needs to be working in sync in order to relieve pain, and for healing to occur.
If you are suffering from back pain, or symptoms that occur in your extremities please contact us to learn how you can relieve these symptoms naturally.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
It’s been a year since many people have been unexpectedly working from home. It sounds nice in theory, however folks are finding their new ways of working remotely are taking a toll on their bodies and how they are accustomed to functioning. We are sitting for much longer periods of time, spending more time at a desk on a computer, and spending fewer hours walking to and from the office, to and from transit, and even without those aspects of movement; we are not moving around the office to visit with others or attend meetings.
Working remotely may have been a new learning experience for your mind and routines, but it has been an equally impactful learning experience for our bodies as well. This learning has been extended to learning about our bodies function and change in different settings.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is commonly found in those who work for hours a day at a computer due to the repetitive nature of the work. Shaking off the numbness in your fingers or ache in the palm of your hand may have “fixed” the sensation temporarily, but if left untreated it can become quite troublesome.
What Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Feel Like?
It can feel like tingling or numbness in fingertips and hands, burning sensation in your hands, wrists or forearms, or like sharp pins and needles. Many report having numb hands in the morning, or sharp shooting pain the palm of their hand. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can cause swelling in the hands and fingers (not including the thumb or pinky finger), and some people report that they even experience pain that radiates into their shoulder.
Those who experience symptoms often share that their symptoms are worse early in the morning or at night.
It is reactionary to shake it off and resume your activities, but leaving it unaddressed will certainly lead to worsening of your symptoms. You may eventually have trouble holding your tablet or phone, drop car keys, and lose strength in your hands. It is also common for people to report a significant increase in pain.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The Carpal Tunnel Is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a tunnel that runs through your wrists that consists of small bones and a ligament. There are several nerves, smaller ligaments, tendons and vascular structures that run through it which is what gives you mobility such as flexion, extension and grip.
The median nerve runs through this tunnel, and when there is an injury to the Carpal Tunnel this nerve is compressed. It’s the compression of this nerve that creates the numbness, weakness, pain, or burning sensations.
The most commonly affected professions are those who work on computers, long drivers, manual labourers, dentists/hygienists; and any job that requires repetitive movements.
How Can Chiropractic Help?
Providing care for musculoskeletal issues is what we do! Making ergonomic changes, stretches, carpal bone mobilization, splinting at night, exercises, and spinal adjustments are all great parts of an effective treatment plan.
As always, your treatment plan is unique to you. Our job is to ensure your pain or discomfort is not impacting your life in a way that is preventable.