Herniated Disc Symptoms

One of the most common back problems we see is herniated discs. Typically, having a herniated disc is quite painful. However, some people end up having no symptoms and do not even realize there is a problem until they get an MRI. Either way, it is important to know about the symptoms of a herniated disc, as diagnosing the problem early on can help you find relief faster so that you can start to live a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Leg or Arm Pain

Herniated discs can happen along different parts of the spine, they can cause pain in different parts of the body. Typically, they occur in the lower back, which causes you to feel pain in the calf, thigh, and buttocks region. Sometimes pain can even spread down to your foot depending on the severity of the injury.

If there is a herniated disc in your neck, this usually causes pain to occur in the arm and shoulder. You may experience this as a shooting pain that occurs when you sneeze, cough, or tilt your neck a certain way.

Numbness or Tingling

A herniated disc puts pressure on important nerves, which causes people to experience numbness or tingling throughout their body. This numbness can occur in the foot, ankle, arms, back, and many other areas.

Muscle Weakness

In addition to causing tingling, compression of affected nerves can also lead to muscle weakness. Your nerves cannot function as normal, which leads to an ability to hold or lift objects, as well as increased clumsiness and stumbling.

How Our San Antonio Chiropractor Treats Herniated Discs

Luckily, with proper chiropractor care and conservative treatment, nine out of 10 people experience relief from their herniated disc symptoms. One treatment that has been shown to be effective is chiropractic manipulation and non-surgical spinal decompression to try and get the disc back in the correct spot. Different stretches as well as hot and cold therapy are also useful in controlling symptoms.

To learn more, read about our different treatment services we offer at Dr. Phillips Chiropractic Nutrition and Wellness!