How to Know if You’ve Slipped a Disc

Nearly 65 million people have reported a recent episode of back pain, and chronic back problems are a leading cause of disability. 

Many people recover from herniated discs every year, but healing can take time. If you’ve recently slipped a disc, having a spinal specialist on your side can pave the way to recovery. 

At Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine in Meridian, Idaho, our team of experienced medical practitioners can correctly diagnose whether you have a slipped disc resulting from an injury or degenerative disc disease. 

We can create a treatment plan to reduce your pain and give you back your mobility. 

Causes of slipped discs

Your spine consists of 24 stacked vertebrae, cushioned by spinal discs. These discs have two layers (a tough outer ring and a gelatinous core) and are responsible for absorbing shock and preventing friction. 

An injury to the back can cause damage to one or more discs. When the soft, inner portion of the disc “slips” through the ring of cartilage containing it, the herniation puts pressure on the surrounding nerves.

Aging causes spinal discs to begin to dry out, shrink, and crack. This wear-and-tear is known as degenerative disc disease, and it can also lead to disc herniation. 

How to tell if you’ve slipped a disc

Maybe you slipped and fell, wrenching your back. Perhaps you got out of bed and felt like something shifted in your spine. Either way, you’re in terrible pain. Is it a slipped disc?

A herniated disc can cause the following symptoms: 

• Sharp, debilitating back pain
• Pain while bending, twisting, or stretching your back
• Pain that worsens with movement, including walking, standing, or sitting
• Muscle weakness
• Numbness and tingling in your extremities 

Any of the above symptoms can indicate that you’ve slipped a disc. You should visit a specialist to receive an assessment. If left untreated, severely slipped discs can lead to further complications and chronic back pain. 

Assessing your treatment options

Slipped discs may be treated using conservative measures such as bed rest, gentle exercise, and stretching. You might be prescribed medications to alleviate pain while your spine heals.

If you have multiple slipped discs and/or degenerative disc disease is present, you may need additional treatment.

At Advantage Spinal Dynamics, we offer a number of additional treatments for those suffering from degenerative disc disease. These include: 

• Chiropractic manipulation 
• Mechanical traction 
• Decompression therapy
• Red light laser therapy
• Massage therapy
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

During your consultation, a specialist performs an examination to determine the severity of your slipped disc. From there, we work to build a treatment plan that works for you. 

To learn more about our treatments for slipped discs and discuss your options, get in touch with us by calling 208-225-4358 or request an appointment online.