Are you wondering how you can keep living with the extreme pain in your back? If you’re suffering from pain caused by disc problems, your medical physician may have recommended back surgery. There are certainly certain situations where surgery may be necessary, such as severe bone, disc, and nerve destruction. However, the majority of people suffering from back pain and/or sciatica never actually need surgery. Your doctor of chiropractic can discuss back surgery alternatives with you to see if you can benefit from other forms of treatment.
You may wonder why discs in the spine cause such pain? First, you need to understand what a disc is and what it does for you. There are intervertebral discs with a tough outer ring and a soft gel-like center that separate each vertebra. They act like little shock absorbers, cushioning the bones so they don’t rub against each other as you move. The spine receives its curve, flexibility, and strength from health discs.
Second, as the disc starts to wear out, possibly just from aging, this cushion becomes thinner and thinner, allowing the vertebrae to rub against each other. Or, the disc is damaged from a traumatic event, such as an accident, or overstretching during physical activity, resulting in herniations and pain. One type of herniation—protrusion--can occur if the gel-like center bulges, pushing the outer ring of the disc out of shape. Another type of herniation—prolapse—occurs if the gel-like center bulges out so much that it actually separates from the rest of the disc. If the prolapsed disc pushes into the spinal cord or puts pressure on nerves, it will cause constant and severe pain. Numbness in a foot or leg may also occur in extreme cases.
Of the thousands of surgical procedures performed each year for herniated discs, surgeons report that many of those who have surgery may be in the same or worse pain after the operation. Sadly, if the first surgery doesn’t resolve the back problem, follow-up operations don’t generally help. Unfortunately, even if the back surgery was considered a success, many times other issues will develop, such as scar tissue, permanent spinal weakness, distortion, and instability.
Chiropractic care offers back pain sufferers with back surgery alternatives so that spinal surgery can be avoided. If you are facing the prospect of spinal surgery, if possible, obtain the opinion of a doctor of chiropractic to discuss back surgery alternatives before making a final decision.
The chiropractors at McKim Chiropractic can help you regain your ability to function pain-free in your day-to-day activities. They offer the DRS Protocol™, a non-surgical treatment for back pain associated with spinal and disc problems. Call McKim Chiropractic today for more information about back surgery alternatives and to schedule a consultation. You will be given a thorough examination to see if you are a candidate for spinal decompression therapy, customizing a course of treatment will be customized uniquely for you. Our licensed and certified staff is happy to help the residents of Nampa, ID, live life pain-free!
