Should you go to a chiropractor if you have a herniated disc?
Andrew Campbell
Published Apr 23, 2026
Keeping this in view, is it safe to go to a chiropractor with a herniated disc?
If you haven't tried chiropractic care before, rest assured, there is evidence that shows that chiropractic techniques such as spinal manipulation (also called spinal adjustment) and other forms of manual and mechanical therapy are safe and may be effective for relieving your pain and other symptoms.
Likewise, can a chiropractor help bulging disc? Chiropractic care is the preferred treatment method for many patients suffering from a bulging disc. It is non-invasive and does not require drugs or injections of any kind. Chiropractic can help provide you with improved mobility, decreased pain, and overall better quality of life.
People also ask, is it OK to get a massage with a herniated disc?
Deep Tissue Massage: There are more than 100 types of massage, but deep tissue massage is an ideal option if you have a herniated disc because it uses a great deal of pressure to relieve deep muscle tension and spasms, which develop to prevent muscle motion at the affected area.
What should you not do with a herniated disc?
People with a herniated disk should avoid doing strenuous activities during recovery. People should avoid all exercises that cause pain or feel as though they are making the pain worse. Avoid hamstring exercises when experiencing sciatica.
Related Question Answers
Can a herniated disc be pushed back into place?
The most common indicator of a herniated disc is when pain radiates down into the leg or arm. Special extension exercises can help relieve pain from a herniated disc. Exercise can work like a vacuum to suck the center of the disc back into place, helping release pressure on the nerve.What is the fastest way to heal a herniated disc?
1. Heat and cold therapy can help relieve muscle tension and pain.- Apply heat to your back in the morning or prior to stretching/exercise to decrease muscle tension.
- Try placing a heating pad or hot compress against your lower back periodically throughout the day.
Can you make a herniated disc worse?
Can you make a herniated disc worse? The pain from a herniated disc usually is worse when you are active and gets better when you are resting. Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward may make the pain worse.What is the best treatment for a herniated disc?
Nonsurgical Treatment- Rest. One to 2 days of bed rest will usually help relieve back and leg pain.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). Medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain.
- Physical therapy.
- Epidural steroid injection.
How long does it take a herniated disc to heal without surgery?
Most people recover from a slipped disc within six weeks without treatment. Until then there are a number of treatment options that aim to help relieve the pain and improve mobility.How long does it take for a disc herniation to heal?
Nonsurgical treatmentsSelf care: In most cases, the pain from a herniated disc will get better within a couple days and completely resolve in 4 to 6 weeks. Restricting your activity, ice/heat therapy, and taking over the counter medications will help your recovery.
How do you fix a herniated disc at home?
For mild herniated disc pain, relieve the inflammation to decrease pain. For instance, applying a heating pad or ice pack to the affected area may be a good way to temporarily relieve your pain and reduce inflammation. Take 10-15 minutes twice a day to lie on your stomach with one to two pillows under your hips.Can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve?
Chiropractic care for a pinched nerve includes re-aligning the spine to get you back to optimal health. There are so many stress factors that take place that can cause a pinched nerve, and chiropractors specialize in reducing that stress to treat pinched nerves as well as prevent them.Can you feel a herniated disc with your fingers?
Symptoms by Region of the SpineHerniated Cervical Disc(neck): Pain shooting down the arm to the fingertips, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the shoulder, arm or hand, difficulty walking or maintaining balance or problems gripping or handling things.
What is better for herniated disc heat or ice?
Relieve inflammationFor mild herniated disc pain, relieve the inflammation to decrease pain. For instance, applying a heating pad or ice pack to the affected area may be a good way to temporarily relieve your pain and reduce inflammation.
Can I go to the gym with a herniated disc?
Is it safe to lift weights with a herniated disc? The short answer is yes. Exercise is not only recommended – it's required to help retrain the muscles in your back. After local back pain is controlled and minimized, you should focus on reloading your spine with light activity in order to relearn how to move properly.Is heat good for herniated discs?
For mild herniated disc pain, relieve the inflammation to decrease pain. For instance, applying a heating pad or ice pack to the affected area may be a good way to temporarily relieve your pain and reduce inflammation. Take 10-15 minutes twice a day to lie on your stomach with one to two pillows under your hips.Can you feel a herniated disc?
If your herniated disk is in your lower back, you'll typically feel the most pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf. You might have pain in part of the foot, as well. If your herniated disk is in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm.How serious is a herniated disc?
An untreated, severe slipped disc can lead to permanent nerve damage. In very rare cases, a slipped disc can cut off nerve impulses to the cauda equina nerves in your lower back and legs. If this occurs, you may lose bowel or bladder control. Another long-term complication is known as saddle anesthesia.Can a chiropractor make a bulging disc worse?
Chiropractic Care for Herniated DiscsA common misconception is that chiropractic adjustments will not help with herniated discs, but rather make them worse. This, however, is not the case.
What is the difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc?
"A bulging disc is like letting air out of a car tire. The disc sags and looks like it is bulging outward. With a herniated disc, the outer covering of the disc has a hole or tear. This causes the nucleus pulposus (jelly-like center of the disc) to leak into the spinal canal."Will my bulging disc ever heal?
Usually a herniated disc will heal on its own over time. Be patient, and keep following your treatment plan. If your symptoms don't get better in a few months, you may want to talk to your doctor about surgery.How do you tell if it's a slipped disc or pinched nerve?
A herniated disc occurs when the fibrous outer portion of the disc ruptures or tears, and the jelly-like core squeezes out. When the herniated disc compresses a nearby nerve, as in the image below, the result can be a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve may cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs.How do you treat a bulging l4 l5 disc?
Typically, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually tried first. For more severe pain, opioids, tramadol, and/or corticosteroids may be used. Physical therapy. Exercise and physical therapy can be modified to specifically target pain stemming from L4-L5 and the lower back.How do you stretch a bulging disc?
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and both heels on the floor. - Cross one leg over the other, resting the ankle on the bent knee. - Gently pull the crossed knee towards the chest until there is a stretch in the buttock, hold for 10-15 seconds. - Repeat on both sides for 3 rounds.Is a back brace good for a bulging disc?
A herniated disc can cause acute and chronic low back pain, leg pain and sciatica. Wearing a herniated disc back brace may help prevent an injury from occurring. Back braces can also help support the lower back after a herniated disc by providing compression and stability.How do you get a slipped disc back in place?
Try and avoid jutting your hips forward. Let your neck and gravity do their job to get you into a mellow backward stretch. The effect, as with the previous two stretches, is to try and ease the slipped disc back into place.Does it hurt to touch a herniated disc?
This herniation of the disc can result in a large bulge that can press on nearby nerve roots, causing pain. However, herniated discs don't always hurt. In fact, it's entirely possible to have a herniated disc and not know it. Herniated discs only cause pain when the herniated area pushes on a nerve root in the spine.Can you live a normal life with a herniated disc?
Fortunately, most people with a herniated disk never get to the point that they need to see a specialist or have advanced testing. Back symptoms usually go away on their own. Even for those who do need treatment, only a small minority has lingering chronic pain that does not resolve over time.Is a herniated disc a permanent injury?
Herniated disc injuries are painful and permanent injuries that may require expensive medical treatment. They can result in lifelong pain and impairment. Disc injuries can impair you to the point where you can no longer work or have to seek a different line of work.How do you sleep with a herniated disc?
If you have a herniated disc, you may want to try sleeping on your side curled in a fetal position:- Lay on your back and then roll over gently onto your side.
- Tuck your knees toward your chest and gently curl your torso toward your knees.
- Remember to switch sides from time to time to prevent any imbalances.