How A Herniated Disc Can Affect Other Body Parts in Vacaville

Your spine in Vacaville is an important structure because it helps support your body in making it balanced, upright, and in control. The nerve roots in the spine allow you to feel everything, and the spinal discs in between the vertebrae help you move and function with ease.

The spinal discs are tough because they can effortlessly absorb the shock and repetitive impacts you have endured for years. As you get older, your discs will start showing signs of wear-and-tear that can sometimes develop minor rips and tears.

Your back is not the only one affected when you have a herniated disc.

Any of your discs can herniate or rupture, but the problem often starts in the lumbar spine, or lower back. A herniated disc can make the fluid inside leak out, thereby irritating the surrounding nerves and will lead to chronic pain.

But persistent neck and back pain is not the only sign of a herniated spinal disc. It can also cause numbness, tingling, and discomfort in the arms, legs, or shoulders.

Herniated Disc Symptoms in Vacaville

When a herniated disc causes any kind of symptoms, its leaked material can irritate the nearby nerve roots in the spinal column. Since the spinal nerves branch out to several parts of the body, you will feel pain or other sensations in areas where it may not seem related to a problem in your spine.

The symptoms you experience will vary on the location of your herniated disc, the affected spinal nerves, and the network those nerves belong to:

• Cervical spine: A herniated disc located in the cervical spine can cause persistent or searing neck pain, or it may cause pain that can radiate into your shoulder or arm. Numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness can also happen anywhere in your arm, hand, or shoulder.
• Lumbar spine: It is the part where most of the upper body weight is being supported and bears most of the force when bending and twisting, so there is no doubt that a herniated disc can happen here. When your lower back has suffered a herniated disc, it can cause significant or chronic lower back pain, or even sciatica. There will be shooting pain in the buttocks, thigh, or calf and may radiate all the way to your foot. You may also feel numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness along this nerve path.
• Thoracic spine: A ruptured disc along the mid-to-upper back may show no obvious symptoms at all. Any pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in this area may extend into your arms and shoulders, or it may radiate from your mid-back down into your lower back, buttocks, and legs.

Herniated Disc Treatment

A comprehensive treatment plan will work well on most herniated discs. Here are some treatments that work well with it:

• Chiropractic adjustments: This treatment uses a gentle, controlled force to correct spinal misalignments and reduce related nerve stress. Regular adjustments can help reduce inflammation and pain, relax surrounding muscles, and restore normal function in your body.
• Spinal decompression: This can provide immediate relief and long-term healing since it uses an advanced, computer-assisted technology that relaxes and stretches your spine. Apart from providing relief for disc-related pressure, spinal decompression can also stimulate blood flow through your spine for a faster healing process.
• Physical therapy: Once you have managed inflammation and pain, your discs will start healing. When that happens, a physical therapy program can be sufficient in helping you build your strength, improve flexibility, and restore total mobility.

If you experience any of the symptoms and you are interested in the treatment options mentioned, then visit us here at Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine in Vacaville, CA to get yourself treated. Just dial (707) 474-5688 to get yourself an appointment with us today!