A herniated disc can cause more than localized back or neck pain. When displaced disc material irritates or presses against a nearby nerve, discomfort may travel into an arm or leg and be accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness.
At Momentum Health & Wellness Institute, Dr. Julie Stewart and the care team provide personalized, nonsurgical treatment options for qualifying patients with herniated disc symptoms in Placentia, California. Care begins with a careful evaluation to identify the possible source of your discomfort and determine whether chiropractic care, spinal decompression, supportive therapies, or a medical referral is appropriate.
The spine is made up of individual bones called vertebrae. Between these bones are intervertebral discs that help absorb impact and support comfortable spinal movement.
Each disc has a firm outer layer called the annulus fibrosus and a softer, gel-like center called the nucleus pulposus. A herniated disc develops when part of the inner material pushes through a weakened or torn area in the outer layer. The displaced material may irritate a nearby nerve, resulting in pain and other neurological symptoms.
A herniated disc is sometimes called a slipped, ruptured, or prolapsed disc. However, the disc does not literally slip out of place. The term describes a change in the disc’s structure that allows its inner material to extend beyond its normal boundary.
Symptoms vary depending on whether the affected disc is in the neck or lower back and whether it is placing pressure on a nerve.
Common symptoms may include:
A herniated disc in the lower back can irritate a nerve connected to the sciatic nerve, producing pain that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg. This pattern is commonly called sciatica. A cervical herniated disc in the neck may produce pain, numbness, or weakness that travels into the shoulder, arm, or hand.
Your first visit focuses on understanding your symptoms and determining the most appropriate next step. Dr. Julie will explain the examination findings, answer your questions, and discuss whether conservative chiropractic care may be suitable.
When care is recommended, your plan may consider:
Progress is monitored throughout treatment. Recommendations may be modified as your mobility, symptoms, and activity tolerance change. When findings suggest that your condition requires imaging, medication management, injections, surgical consultation, or another type of care, an appropriate referral may be recommended.
Living with radiating back or neck pain can make sitting, working, exercising, and sleeping difficult. You do not have to determine the cause or the right treatment on your own.
Schedule an evaluation with Momentum Health & Wellness Institute to learn whether personalized chiropractic care or spinal decompression may be appropriate for your herniated disc symptoms. Dr. Julie Stewart and the care team will assess your condition, explain your options, and help you make an informed decision about your next step.
A chiropractor may help certain patients manage pain, restricted movement, muscle tension, or other mechanical symptoms associated with a herniated disc. Treatment depends on the disc’s location, the severity of nerve involvement, and the patient’s medical history.
No. Some people have a herniated disc without noticeable symptoms. Pain generally occurs when displaced disc material irritates a nerve or contributes to inflammation in a sensitive area.
Pain may feel aching, burning, sharp, or electric. It may remain in the neck or lower back or travel into an arm, hand, buttock, leg, or foot. Numbness, tingling, or weakness may also occur.
Yes. A herniated disc in the lower back can irritate a spinal nerve that contributes to the sciatic nerve. This may cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels from the lower back or buttocks into the leg.
No. Spinal decompression may be considered for some patients, but it is not appropriate for every condition or health history. Patients with certain fractures, severe osteoporosis, spinal instability, infections, tumors, pregnancy, or previous surgical hardware may require a different approach.
Not necessarily. Many cases can first be evaluated through a health history and physical examination. Imaging may be recommended when symptoms are severe, neurological deficits are present, the diagnosis is uncertain, trauma occurred, or the patient is not improving as expected.
Recovery time varies. Some people improve within several weeks, while others experience symptoms for several months. The location of the herniation, severity of nerve irritation, general health, activity demands, and response to treatment can all influence recovery.
A brief reduction in aggravating activity may be helpful during an acute flare-up, but prolonged bed rest is generally not encouraged. Controlled movement and a gradual return to suitable activity are commonly recommended. Follow guidance from a qualified healthcare professional based on your condition.
Many patients can remain active with appropriate modifications, but exercises should not significantly increase radiating pain, numbness, or weakness. A professional can help identify movements that support mobility and strength without placing unnecessary stress on the affected area.
Surgery may be considered when severe symptoms continue despite conservative treatment, pain significantly limits daily activities, or neurological problems such as progressive weakness develop. Loss of bladder or bowel control requires immediate medical evaluation.
