Disc herniations can be debilitating, causing pain, tingling, numbness, and restricted mobility, which affects daily life and often leads many to consider surgery as the only option for relief. However, seeing a back pain chiropractor can be an effective non-surgical alternative. However, insights from the American Medical Association's (AMA) Guide to Permanent Impairment reveal that even seemingly successful surgeries may lead to greater long-term whole-body impairment compared to non-surgical treatments. This evidence points to the importance of chiropractic care as a more sustainable, proactive approach to managing disc herniations and improving spinal health.
Understanding the Nature of Disc Herniations
A disc herniation occurs when the soft, gel-like core of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in its tough outer layer. This herniation can irritate nearby nerves, causing pain, tingling, numbness, and restricted movement. While surgical intervention can relieve pressure on nerves, it also poses risks of complications and increases long-term impairment. Non-surgical alternatives, such as chiropractic care, focus on treating the underlying mechanical issues of the spine, including misalignments, joint restrictions, and muscle imbalances, reducing impairment without the risks associated with surgery.
The Long-Term Impairment Concerns of Surgery
Surgical Interventions and Whole-Body Impairment: The AMA's findings reveal that even if surgery resolves immediate symptoms, it often leads to an increased level of impairment due to the permanent structural changes made to the spine. Surgical alteration of spinal integrity affects movement patterns, potentially leading to complications in adjacent spinal segments and chronic conditions down the line.
Residual Symptoms and the Need for Repeat Surgeries: Patients who experience ongoing pain or restricted mobility after initial surgery frequently require additional interventions. Studies indicate that up to 40% of spinal surgery patients experience residual symptoms that necessitate further surgeries. Additionally, back surgeries fail 74% of the time (Nguyen, T. Randlh. SPINE (Phia Pa 1975) 2011 (Feb 15); 36 (4): 320-031). Each subsequent surgery compounds the overall level of impairment, diminishing quality of life. Furthermore, 43% of workers who first saw a surgeon ended in surgery, as opposed to only 2% of those who first saw a chiropractor (Early Predictors of Lumbar Spine Surgery After Occupational Back Injury). This further emphasizes the need for less invasive, corrective options like chiropractic care that prioritize spinal health without surgical risks.
Table: Impairment Levels for Intervertebral Disc Lesions (Source: American Medical Association's Guide to Permanent Impairment)
Disorder | Cervical Impairment (%) | Thoracic Impairment (%) | Lumbar Impairment (%) |
Unoperated disc (no residuals) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unoperated disc (mild degenerative changes) | 4 | 2 | 5 |
Unoperated disc (moderate-to-severe degenerative changes) | 6 | 3 | 7 |
Surgically treated disc lesion (no residuals) | 7 | 4 | 8 |
Surgically treated disc lesion (with residual symptoms) | 9 | 5 | 10 |
Multiple operative levels, first operation | Add 1%/level | Add 1%/level | Add 1%/level |
Multiple operative levels, second operation | Add 2% | Add 2% | Add 2% |
Multiple operative levels, third or subsequent surgery | Add 1%/operation | Add 1%/operation | Add 1%/operation |
Chiropractic Care: A Non-Surgical Solution for Back Pain Chiropractor
At Dopps Chiropractic in Overland Park, Kansas, Dr. Rory Dopps provides personalized chiropractic solutions that directly address disc herniations. If you have a fusion in your spine or have had spinal surgery, chiropractic care can still help to improve nervous system function. By finding the cause of the disc herniation and addressing lifestyle issues, chiropractic care aims to provide long-term relief. We use digital X-rays and very specific, controlled adjustments to other vertebrae in the spine to help improve function.
Through non-invasive techniques, such as spinal adjustments, therapeutic exercises, and soft tissue therapy, chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper spinal alignment, improving nerve function, and strengthening the supportive musculature. These combined efforts contribute to relief and reduced impairment.
Here are the key ways chiropractic care supports those with disc herniations:
Restoring Spinal Alignment: Disc herniations often occur because of underlying misalignments that put excessive pressure on the discs. Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine, relieving this pressure and helping the discs heal. This approach directly addresses the root cause, rather than merely treating the symptoms.
Improving Nerve Function and Mobility: The compression of nerves caused by disc herniations leads to various symptoms, from numbness to radiating pain. By reducing nerve impingement through targeted adjustments, chiropractic care alleviates these symptoms, restores mobility, and prevents further nerve damage.
Strengthening the Musculoskeletal System: Chiropractic care often includes therapeutic exercises tailored to the patient’s specific needs. These exercises build strength in muscles that support the spine, making it more resilient against future injury and minimizing the risk of re-herniation.
The Advantages of Chiropractic Care Over Surgery
Chiropractic care for disc herniations is more than a temporary fix; it provides lasting benefits that promote overall health, such as improved spinal function, reduced chronic pain, and enhanced mobility.
1. Sustainable Pain Management
Chiropractic care aims to eliminate the root causes of pain by improving spinal mechanics, rather than merely masking the symptoms as many post-surgical outcomes do. This proactive approach helps prevent the development of chronic pain.
2. Prevention of Adjacent Segment Complications
Surgery can lead to increased stress on adjacent spinal segments, often resulting in further complications. Chiropractic care maintains the natural movement of the spine, avoiding these complications and reducing the likelihood of additional interventions.
3. Empowering Patients Through Education
A key component of chiropractic care is patient education. Patients are encouraged to understand their bodies better and adopt lifestyle changes like improved posture, ergonomic habits, and exercises to support spinal health. At Dopps Chiropractic, patients receive comprehensive wellness education to maintain their spinal resilience and reduce the risk of future issues. Check out Dr. Rory Dopps' wellness blog and the Wellness Wave podcast for more insights and guidance on maintaining optimal health.
4. Lower Whole-Body Impairment
By avoiding invasive procedures and focusing on natural healing, chiropractic care helps patients maintain lower impairment levels. For those who have already undergone surgery, chiropractic treatment can support better outcomes by reducing compensatory strain on other parts of the body and restoring functionality.
Choose Dopps Chiropractic for Effective, Non-Surgical Disc Herniation Treatment
For patients with disc herniations seeking a non-surgical approach, Dopps Chiropractic in Overland Park, Kansas, provides comprehensive, personalized care plans. Dr. Rory Dopps specializes in helping patients restore spinal health through adjustments, therapeutic exercises, and education.
Take a proactive approach to your spinal health. If you’re experiencing the challenges of a disc herniation, consider chiropractic care as a safer, more sustainable solution for lasting relief and well-being. Schedule a consultation or initial assessment at Dopps Chiropractic to get started on your personalized path to recovery. Visit Dopps Chiropractic to start your journey to improved spinal health and a more active, pain-free life.
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