chiropractic care after having a baby

If you have a herniated disc, you may fear that surgery is your only option. Luckily, there are many non-surgical, alternative treatments for herniated discs. These non-incision treatments will help relieve your pain and symptoms without the need to go under the knife. In some cases, they may even be enough to treat your herniated disc for good.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses small needles to heal areas of your body. While it sounds painful, the needles are so small you can't feel them. This ancient medicine uses the belief that energy in your body becomes blocked, which causes pain. The needles help unblock the energy. More scientifically, it is likely that the needles cause your brain to release endorphins, which eases pain. Acupressure is another option that is similar to acupuncture, but instead of using needles, it uses the pressure from fingers in certain locations along the body. In theory, it is supposed to work like acupuncture.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic treatments are excellent for herniated discs. In fact, if your symptoms are severe, getting a chiropractic manipulation can ease a lot of the pain by taking pressure off the disk. During manipulations, the chiropractor adjusts joints, particularly those in your spine and neck, but any joint can be adjusted. You'll hear and feel a popping sound like your bone has moved, but it is just the release of fluid in the joints. Some chiropractors also use modalities such as electro-stimulation, which uses tiny shocks to relax muscles, which makes adjustments easier. Other modalities include hot/cold packs, traction, massage and many others.

Massage

A massage is another excellent option for relieving severe back pain, but it is more of a natural pain management technique you can use instead of medications that cause unpleasant side effects. Massage helps by increasing blood flow, which brings more oxygen to the injured area. There are many different types of massage, so make sure to talk with your massage therapist about your specific pain before the massage. They will be able to tailor a massage to your needs.

Just because you have a herniated disc, it doesn't mean you have to get surgery. There are many natural and alternative ways you can ease pain and pressure on the spinal disc, and they all come with few side effects unlike harsh pain medications and surgery. If you would like more information regarding herniated disc treatments, contact a chiropractor in your area today. 

Contact a company like Progressive Chiropractic for more information and assistance.