Intervertebral Disc Injury Care
in Hiawatha & Cedar Rapids
Injuries to the intervertebral discs (IVD) of the spine are very prevalent in America. These injuries range from 5-20 cases per 1,000 patients, which makes them very common. The age range that disc injuries usually occur in is 30-50, but that is not all-inclusive. These injuries can range from asymptomatic to completely debilitating. They can involve localized pain at the level of injury, referral pain encompassing an area around the site of injury called a sclerotome, or radiating pain into an extremity along what is called a dermatome.
What Causes Disc Injuries?
Most commonly, individuals injure their IVD in the lumbar spinal segments (low back). IVD injuries to the cervical and thoracic spine are not as common but do occur as well. Common ways people injure their IVDs are auto accidents, bending over and simultaneously using their arms, lifting or bending with rotation, improper form with lifting, lifting too much weight, playing with children/grandchildren, sports involving lots of spinal rotation, chronic dehydration, weekend athletes, birth, and vocational tasks (healthcare workers especially).
When It’s a Medical Emergency
When to See a Chiropractor First
The most common IVD injuries are disc displacement, bulging disc, and herniated discs. These injuries need to be immediately seen by a chiropractor initially. The chiropractor can diagnose the injury clinically and can refer for an MRI if necessary. MRI is not always necessary due to the expense to the patient, and the clinical insignificance of the positive finding regarding treatment plans. If the treatment plan will not change after confirming a herniation, then the MRI has little benefit for the doctor and the patient. If patients want peace of mind and they can afford it, then that is also plausible.
Symptoms
If you have hurt an IVD, you may have symptoms such as:
- extreme pain in the spine
- pain that goes from the spine to a large area around it
- radiating pain into an extremity
- tingling, hot and cold sensation
- moderate to severe loss of range of motion
- compensatory leaning to one side (antalgia)
- pain with bowel movements
- pain with coughing/sneezing,
- extreme restriction of all activities of daily living.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Chiropractors are the only qualified experts to treat a displaced, bulging, or herniated disc in a holistic manner. They can diagnose them clinically and immediately deliver treatments that same day depending on technique. They can refer you to medical care if necessary.
Some chiropractors are better than others to treat these injuries. Low force chiropractic specialists are the best chiropractors to see for a disc injury. They can adjust the injured area immediately after the injury with a light thrust, in which most chiropractors who are high force should not thrust directly at the injured segment level.
Low Force Techniques
Some low force techniques like D.N.F.T., Activator, and Re.A.L.™ Technique can adjust the intervertebral soft tissue between the vertebrae which includes the IVD. Also, these techniques can diagnose why the IVD injury happened by asking the body directly what caused it. Was it something physical that was just too strenuous? Or was it a chemical or emotional imbalance leading to lack of proper musculoskeletal function via nervous system interference? Most chiropractors do not dive that deep into what happened, therefore the likelihood of the same IVD injury to occur again is still present.
At Vitality Chiropractic P.C., we specialize in these injuries, and can deliver exceptional care for those who have injured their IVDs. Make sure to call and tell us your story in a free consultation with Dr. Justin Otto. Remember, if you suspect an IVD injury, the best place you can go is a chiropractor’s office—and Re.A.L.™ Technique doctors like Dr. Justin Otto are specialists in handling these cases.