Your Conservative Treatment for Herniated Discs
​
A herniated disc can be painful and frustrating, but the good news is that most cases can heal naturally with the right conservative treatment. At our clinic, we specialize in non-surgical solutions that help your body recover while relieving pain and restoring function. We use a combination of proven therapies, including chiropractic manipulative therapy, spinal decompression, therapeutic exercise, electric muscle stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, and shortwave diathermy.
Why Choose Our Conservative Treatment for a Herniated Disc?
You may think surgery is your only option for a herniated disc, but research shows that non-surgical treatments can be just as effective for most cases. Our conservative approach:
​
-
Reduces pain naturally without the risks of surgery or long-term medication use.
-
Supports the body’s natural healing process for lasting relief.
-
Restores mobility and function so you can get back to your daily activities.
Understanding a Herniated Disc
​
A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner core of a spinal disc pushes through the tough outer layer, often pressing on nearby nerves. This can happen in the cervical spine (neck) or lumbar spine (lower back), causing pain, numbness, weakness, and reduced mobility. However, with the right approach, your body can heal naturally in stages.
Causes and Symptoms of Herniated Discs
Common Causes:
-
Aging and natural wear and tear
-
Repetitive stress or heavy lifting
-
Sudden trauma or injury
-
Poor posture and spinal misalignment
Symptoms:
-
Localized pain in the lower back or neck
-
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs or arms
-
Sciatic pain radiating down one leg (if the sciatic nerve is affected)
-
Increased pain with sitting, bending, or sneezing
How Your Body Heals a Herniated Disc
Your body goes through three key healing stages when recovering from a herniated disc: inflammation, repair, and remodeling. Our treatment modalities support each stage to optimize your recovery.
Stage 1: Inflammation (0-3 Weeks)
What Happens?
Your body reacts to the injury by increasing blood flow to the area, which can cause swelling and pain. Inflammatory cells, such as macrophages, help clear out damaged tissue, while cytokines signal the start of the healing process.
​
Collagen and Cellular Changes:
-
Inflammatory cells break down damaged extracellular matrix components.
-
Type III collagen begins forming as a temporary framework for early tissue repair.
-
Fibroblasts start migrating to the injured area to lay down new structural proteins.
How We Help:
-
Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy – Gentle adjustments help realign the spine, reducing mechanical stress and promoting better blood circulation, which enhances the inflammatory response.
-
Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) – Uses mild electrical currents to relax muscle spasms, improve oxygenation, and stimulate cellular activity to accelerate early tissue repair.
-
Shortwave Diathermy – A deep-heating therapy that increases blood flow, promoting macrophage activity and fibroblast migration for effective tissue breakdown and rebuilding.
-
Therapeutic Ultrasound – Uses sound waves to reduce inflammation, increase fibroblast proliferation, and enhance early collagen synthesis.
-
Spinal Decompression Therapy – A specialized treatment that gently stretches the spine to relieve pressure on the affected disc. This therapy creates negative pressure within the disc, allowing bulging material to retract, reducing nerve compression and promoting nutrient flow. This enhances collagen remodeling and hydration.
-
Passive Therapy - Passive therapy uses things like heat, ice, massage, or electrical stimulation to help relieve pain or improve movement, with the patient mostly resting and not actively participating.
Stage 2: Repair (2-6 Weeks)
What Happens?
The body begins rebuilding damaged tissues by producing more collagen and restoring structural integrity. Fibroblasts continue laying down new connective tissue, replacing the weaker Type III collagen with stronger Type I collagen.
Collagen and Cellular Changes:
-
Type III collagen is gradually replaced by Type I collagen, which is stronger and more durable.
-
Fibroblasts increase in number and activity, forming a dense collagen matrix.
-
Increased proteoglycan production helps retain water and improve disc hydration.
How We Help:
-
Spinal Decompression Therapy – A specialized treatment that gently stretches the spine to relieve pressure on the affected disc. This therapy creates negative pressure within the disc, allowing bulging material to retract, reducing nerve compression and promoting nutrient flow. This enhances collagen remodeling and hydration.
-
Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy – Improves spinal alignment to reduce strain on healing tissues, allowing fibroblasts to lay down collagen in a more organized manner.
-
Therapeutic Ultrasound & Shortwave Diathermy – Enhance tissue healing by stimulating fibroblast activity, improving the organization of new collagen fibers, and reducing scar tissue formation.
-
Active Therapeutic Exercise - Active therapy involves the patient doing exercises or movements—like stretching, strengthening, or balance training—to take a hands-on role in their recovery.
Stage 3: Remodeling (6+ Weeks)
What Happens?
New tissues strengthen, and the body adapts to normal movement patterns. The newly formed Type I collagen fibers realign along stress lines, increasing tensile strength and durability of the healed tissue.
Collagen and Cellular Changes:
-
Collagen fibers mature, thickening and aligning according to mechanical forces.
-
Fibroblasts decrease in activity as the tissue stabilizes.
-
Proteoglycan levels normalize, maintaining disc hydration and elasticity.
How We Help:
-
Therapeutic Exercise – Strengthens the muscles that support your spine, improving stability and flexibility. Loading the tissues through movement encourages collagen cross-linking and proper fiber orientation, enhancing overall resilience.
-
Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy – Ensures proper alignment to maintain optimal biomechanical stress on the spine, preventing excessive scar tissue formation and facilitating long-term disc health.
-
Spinal Decompression Therapy – Continues to hydrate and decompress the discs, reducing residual pressure and maintaining healthy proteoglycan levels, which support disc elasticity and durability.