Disc Injury
Spinal discs act as cushions between the vertebrae, helping absorb shock and support flexibility throughout the spine. When a disc becomes damaged, irritated, or displaced, it can contribute to pain, stiffness, and nerve-related symptoms.
Disc injuries may develop gradually through repetitive stress or occur suddenly due to lifting injuries, accidents, or other forms of trauma. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, symptoms can include localized discomfort, numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain that radiates into the arms or legs.
A thorough examination is essential to determine the source of symptoms and develop an appropriate care plan. Conservative chiropractic care is often sought by individuals looking to improve spinal mobility and reduce mechanical stress on affected structures.
Treatment recommendations may include chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic exercises, mobility training, and other supportive therapies designed to promote function and comfort.
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How Our Disc Injury Care Plan Works
Structural Correction Chiropractic
Your body possesses an innate healing capacity, yet structural misalignments often block this process. Physical and mental stressors can trigger discomfort, limited range of motion, and various health concerns. Our approach identifies and addresses these imbalances to restore proper function and wellness.
Functional Rehabilitation
Your customized care plan targets muscular imbalances and weaknesses while enhancing movement quality and restoring normal function. This program is tailored to your unique circumstances so you can overcome pain and reach your full health potential.
Nervous System Based Approach
Your nervous system serves as the body's primary command center, regulating every cell, tissue, muscle, and organ. By prioritizing nervous system health and enhancing its performance, we can boost your overall wellness, decrease discomfort, and help prevent future health issues.
How We Treat Disc Injury in Newark, DE
We take a comprehensive approach to treating a disc injury, utilizing different steps and techniques to address your injury as it is unique to you and your total health.
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
The first step in chiropractic disc injury care is the consultation. Your chiropractor will evaluate the injury as well as your total health and medical history. This makes it easier to determine the best course of treatment based on your specific situation.
Specific Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care for a disc injury is advantageous for a variety of reasons. The first is that it is non-invasive. A chiropractor can help people with disc injuries without requiring injections or surgical intervention.
Chiropractors do not treat this issue with controlled substances. We use a variety of other techniques to help control the symptoms and heal the injury instead of just masking it with medications.
We take a holistic approach to disc injury. Instead of just looking at this injury, we evaluate your whole body. Our comprehensive evaluation makes it possible to offer advice on lifestyle factors that treat the whole person while helping with the chief concern. You can start feeling better at your own pace.
This type of care goes straight to the root of the problem. We can help the disc material return to its proper position and correct subluxation via a chiropractic adjustment.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
It is crucial to strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine to prevent a disc injury from occurring again in the future. Exercise also helps to promote better mobility. We will design your exercise plan based on the results of your evaluation to address your specific needs.
Spinal Decompression
When a disc herniates and is outside its proper position, this treatment helps it naturally return to its proper position. Decompression also promotes better nerve function by increasing joint spacing. This treatment uses gentle stretches directed at the spine.
Deep Tissue Laser
It takes time to heal this type of injury, but this treatment may help to accelerate the process. It allows for light energy to reach the damaged tissue through deep penetration. This helps to increase healing and reduce inflammation. Each session usually only takes approximately three to five minutes. This treatment can be combined with others to promote healing and relief from your symptoms.
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Gwen Pinkerton
May 12, 2025
Great Chiropractor. Doing a good job and getting we put back correctly!
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April 2, 2025
Dr South is very knowledgeable and has helped tremendously with my headaches. Highly recommend!
Beverly K.
April 11, 2025
Knowledgeable, friendly and supportive people. Treatments that actually help you feel better and improve your health
Leslie Beckett
April 9, 2025
I have received chiropractic care since 1983 and have experienced many positive practice models. The techniques and overall caring in this practice are unparalleled.
Michael Simpler
April 7, 2025
Dr South is very professional and sincerely cares about his patients. He has eliminated my migraines and continues to improve issues with my neck and back. I had an elderly dog who could hardly walk and I took him to the vet three times in two weeks. They gave me prescriptions that were not helping, then recommended a chiropractor. I was surprised they recommended Dr South, already my chiropractor! One visit and he was walking pretty normal. After the second visit he was running and playing like a puppy. We had another three years of quality life thanks to Dr South. I'm so grateful to have him in my life!
Brenda Diane Tingen
April 7, 2025
Dr South, Sharon, Sam and NaMeta are amazing. They genuinely want to know how you are doing from visit to visit. They know each of their patients by name and greet you at the door. Their attention to detail is spot on. I enjoy every session that I have with them. Can't imagine going to anyone else for my Chiropractic needs.
Angelique Davis
April 5, 2025
Excellent service. Excellent care from Dr South and staff!
Rhett Walls
April 4, 2025
Great service, and caring people!!!
Adam B.
April 4, 2025
Amazing chiropractic doctor. He is very attentive and thorough and really wants to help each patient. Highly recommend if you want the right and correct treatment for your medical needs.
Stanley Bates
April 2, 2025
Excellent service.
Common Symptoms of a Disc Injury in Newark, DE
A disc injury does not always cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they often depend on the location of the disc and how severe the disc injury is. In most cases, the symptoms only happen on one side of the body. The pain tends to worsen over time, and it can get worse.
Pain
Pain is one of the most common symptoms. The disc injury will determine the pain’s location. It can occur at the site of the injured disc as well as in the arms, hands, neck, and legs. The pain is often shooting, sharp, aching, or dull. Pain from a disc injury can worsen with different activity levels. Pain is the last symptom to appear and the first to go away, meaning that if you are experiencing herniation pain, the injury has likely been there for some time, perhaps causing nerve irritation and dysfunction in the body.
Muscle Spasms
The spinal nerves are under pressure from a herniated disc. This can result in muscle weakness. Muscle spasms can also occur with a disc injury. If the disc is in the lumbar spine, it may put pressure on the sciatic nerve. When this nerve is affected, you may experience pain running down the hip, leg, and buttocks.
Numbness and Tingling
With pressure on a nerve, several sensations can occur. These may include pins and needles, tingling, numbness, and burning. Stiffness can also occur with this type of injury. For example, if the disc is in your cervical spine, neck stiffness is not uncommon.
Common Causes of Disc Injury in Newark, DE
There are several ways to experience a disc injury. Knowing the potential causes may help you to reduce your risk.
Repetitive Motion and Stress
If your repetitive movements put frequent strain on any of your spinal discs, this could result in wear and tear on those discs. For example, if you work a job that often requires you to be bent over or make awkward movements affecting your core, this could cause stress that could affect the spinal discs over time.
Heavy Lifting
Physiological changes can start to occur with heavy lifting. This can increase the speed at which the discs become damaged. Over time, this could cause injury and result in disc herniation.
Auto Accidents
When an auto accident occurs, a sudden impact on the spine is possible, and this can result in a disc injury. This type of accident can cause annular tears, bulging discs, and herniated discs, depending on the severity of the impact.
Degenerative Disc Disease
This common condition is characterized by the discs losing strength due to wear and tear. It can occur as the result of getting older or due to overuse or an injury. The discs are unable to repair themselves once the disc is damaged. While any disc in the spine can be affected, it most often affects the lower back and the neck.
Respiratory Illness
It is possible to experience a disc injury due to sneezing and coughing. When you are sneezing or coughing, this can increase pressure on the spine, which can result in leaking or rupture. Sneezing and coughing can also strain the back and increase the risk of a disc injury.
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1450 Capitol Trail, Suite 106, Newark, DE 19711
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a disc herniation to heal?
What should you not do with a herniated disc?
Bending over can aggravate the injury and cause further pain. Make sure to avoid activities that require bending. You should also avoid stretching your back too much.
Adjusting your sleeping position can help to reduce your pain and promote healing. Sleep on the opposite side of your pain. You should also put a pillow under your lower legs. Adding some lumbar support is ideal if you sleep on your back.
You can gently exercise as you are healing, but there are some exercises that you should avoid, including:
- Sit-ups
- Twisting exercises
- Deadlifts
- Hamstring stretches
- Running
- Contact sports
Can a chiropractor in Newark, DE, fix a pinched nerve?
In addition, your chiropractor can help you with things like creating an ergonomic workstation and using proper posture to reduce pain and your risk of another pinched nerve in the future. They may also help you create an exercise plan to help with your pain.
What does a slipped disc feel like?
