Do you have neck pain? Does the pain occasionally make your arms and hands weak or numb? If so, the chances are that you’re suffering from a bulging cervical disc.
Read on to learn about bulging cervical discs, their common causes, and treatment options. We’ll also outline how Our Chiro Chiropractor Brisbane can help you prevent and treat this condition via tested and proven chiropractic treatments.
Cervical Vertebrae & Discs
To understand bulging discs, we must first learn the anatomy of the spine.
The spine typically consists of 33 bones (vertebrae). Among them are seven cervical vertebrae around the neck section. Like the others, the seven are separated by discs (fibrocartilages) that act as shock absorbers.
These discs ensure that the cervical vertebrae have a “shock absorber” between then and help allow you to easily move and turn your head without the vertebra rubbing together. At their exterior are fibrous bands known as annulus. The annulus conceals the disc’s gel-filled centre, known as the nucleus.
How Does Disc Bulging Occur?
Disc bulging occurs when the annulus ruptures, often due to wear and tear, sometimes causing the nucleus to slip out. This condition is also known as disc herniation, slipping, or rupturing. Usually, the gel-like composition of the disc nucleus irritates the spinal nerves, which may trigger inflammation and pain.
Mild disc herniations often do not require surgery as the bulge typically responds well to treatment within 3-6 weeks and is where chiropractic care using a range of techniques is generally effective. Imaging such as MRI and X-ray is usually required to see the severity and type of disc bulge.
Disc bulges generally occur either through trauma to the neck such as compression or over time due to poor biomechanics and degenerative change.
Common Causes and Symptoms of Bulging Discs
Bulging discs generally result from a dehydrated or overstretched disc annulus. Overstretching can be due to excessive weight gain, vigorous exercise regimens, heavy lifting, or sudden head movements. Dehydration, on the other hand, can arise from smoking or ageing.
The symptoms of bulged cervical discs vary depending on the degree of herniation. However, in most cases, you’ll experience the following:
- Sharp pain radiating down your arm into your hand
- Trouble turning your head or bending your neck
- Painful shoulder blades
- Tingling or numbness of your arms
- Uncontrollable muscle spasms
- Unstable hand grips
- Weak biceps or triceps muscles
- Pain around your neck or arms when you wake up
Chiropractic Care for Bulging Cervical Discs
Chiropractic care is one of the most popular solutions for alleviating the pain from bulging cervical discs and promoting natural healing.
At Our Chiro Brisbane, our chiropractic solutions for cervical disc herniation do not merely address the symptoms. Instead, we focus on the problem’s root cause to ensure you recover holistically and enjoy long-term benefits.
First, you’ll meet one of our experienced chiropractors for an in-depth 45-minute consultation. These pre-treatment sessions are essential as they help us understand your medical history and imaging to see potential degree of herniation. We’ll then recommend either of the following chiropractic treatment options (sometimes, we might combine two or more procedures):
- Manual (painless) manipulation of the disc annulus to restore the nucleus to the correct position
- Activator tool — a handheld equipment we use to send gentle impulses to the cervical joints to relieve pain and restore the normal range of motion
- Trigger point therapy to alleviate pressure at specific pain points
- Remedial deep tissue or sports massage
- Cold laser therapy to address inflammation
- Dry needling to help reduce muscle irritation around the neck.
The idea behind all our chiropractic techniques is to get you out of pain and back to health.
Exercises and Tips for Prevention and Self-Care
Before trying any of the below consult your healthcare professional as these exercises may not be right for your or your condition.
You can complement our in-house chiropractic treatments with the following self-care tips to expedite recovery:
- Perform low-impact aerobics like swimming to keep your spinal vertebrae flexible.
- Avoid slouching or standing for extended durations to prevent exerting too much pressure on the spine.
- Maintain a balanced bodyweight.
Besides the self-care tips, the exercises below can also help with the recovery and prevent the recurrence of bulged cervical discs:
- Knee-to-chest stretch – Lie on your back, gently pull one knee towards your chest, and let it stay in that position for 5-10 seconds. Repeat this with the other knee.
- Pelvic tilt – Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Push your belly up to arch your back and stay in this position for 5-10 seconds.
- Shoulder blade squeeze – Sit or stand upright until your spine assumes a straight posture. Next, pull your shoulder blades backward and retain that position for about 5 seconds.
- Partial abdominal curl – Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on your stomach, and raise your upper body about 60 cm off the ground as you breathe out.
Get Expert Help
While bulging cervical discs are more prevalent among the elderly, they can affect anyone. Our Chiro Brisbane has helped hundreds of patients, both young and old, recover from this condition.
Whether you’ve woken up with a stiff neck, experienced a sports injury, or realised your neck pain is worsening by the day, we’ve got your back (literally and otherwise). Call us today for enquiries or to schedule your first appointment.
Our Chiro Brisbane is a friendly, local chiropractic clinic. Chiropractor Bowen Hills, Chiropractor Fortitude Valley, Chiropractor New Farm, Chiropractor Newstead, Chiropractor Teneriffe, and surrounding areas.
REFERENCES:
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=P07391
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/bulging-disk-in-back#what-it-is
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546618/
