Spine Health & Spinal Hygiene

Introduction

The spinal column provides flexibility and stability to the body, consisting of vertebrae, spinal cord, nerve roots, and intervertebral discs. These components work with surrounding tissues, ligaments, and muscles, enabling pain-free mobility. However, activities or work that place excessive stress on the spine can cause damage, leading to misaligned discs and nerve root irritation. This can result in radiating pain in the lower extremities, which may be mistaken for other conditions such as low back pain, leg pain, or sciatica. This article will focus on the pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs and how non-surgical spinal decompression can help people regain sensory function. We work with certified medical providers who use our patients’ valuable information to treat individuals suffering from herniated discs in their lumbar spine and inform them about non-surgical treatments to regain sensory function in their lower extremities. We encourage patients to ask essential questions and seek education from our associated medical providers about their condition. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer

The Symptoms Associated With Herniated Discs

Are you experiencing numbness or tingling down your leg that affects your walking? Does twisting or turning make your lower back uncomfortable? Or are you suffering from low back pain caused by sciatic nerve pain, making it difficult to work or do activities? Many people don’t realize they have herniated discs until repetitive movements cause wear and tear on the spine or constant compression causes the disc to crack, allowing the inner layer to protrude and press on the spinal nerve roots. Research studies reveal that herniated discs can result from various changes that cause pain-like symptoms, including limited trunk flexion, sensory abnormalities in the lower extremities, low back pain, radicular pain, sciatica, and intense distress when sitting. Herniated discs are common, and the inflammatory response from surrounding nerve roots can cause immense pain. As additional research shows, autoimmune responses released by the nucleus pulposus play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sciatic pain and lumbar radiculopathy.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*