Herniated Disc Treatment in Jacksonville, FL
A herniated disc diagnosis sounds serious. And it can be. But the vast majority of herniated discs are treatable without surgery. Here is what that looks like at Full Swing Healthcare.
What a Herniated Disc Actually Is
Each spinal disc is structured like a jelly donut. The outer layer, called the annulus fibrosus, is tough and fibrous. The inner material, called the nucleus pulposus, is soft and gel-like. A herniation happens when the inner material pushes through a tear in the outer layer and bulges outward into the spinal canal or toward a nerve root.
Herniations most commonly happen in the lumbar spine at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and in the cervical spine at C5-C6 and C6-C7. These are the levels that carry the most load and have the most motion, which is why they break down first. A lumbar herniation at L4-L5 pressing on the L5 nerve root will cause pain and weakness in a predictable pattern down the outside of the leg and into the top of the foot. A cervical herniation at C6-C7 pressing on the C7 nerve root will send pain and tingling down the tricep and into the middle fingers. The location of your symptoms tells us a lot about where the problem is.
What most people are not told when they get this diagnosis is that herniated discs frequently improve without surgery. A 2015 study in the American Journal of Neuroradiology found that disc herniations resolve on their own in a large percentage of patients over time, and that larger herniations actually resorb at higher rates than smaller ones. The disc material can retract. The inflammation can resolve. The nerve can heal. Conservative treatment accelerates that process.
How We Treat Herniated Discs
Dr. Muren's approach to disc herniations is methodical. He needs to understand the level involved, the severity, whether there is nerve root compression, and how acute or chronic the condition is before he builds a treatment plan. If you have recent imaging, bring it to your first visit.
Chiropractic Adjustments for Disc Conditions
Specific lumbar and cervical adjustments, particularly using the Thompson drop table and Activator methods, create gentle traction forces that decompress the affected disc level and allow the herniated material to retract. Dr. Muren does not use aggressive high-velocity manipulation on acute disc herniations. The technique is carefully matched to the stage of the condition. Read more about how we approach chiropractic care here.
Soft Tissue and Nerve Tension Work
Disc herniations create muscle guarding and nerve tension throughout the affected region. Therapeutic massage addresses the protective muscle spasm. Specific nerve tension release techniques reduce the sensitization of the affected nerve root. Treating the soft tissue alongside the structural component produces significantly better outcomes than adjustments alone.
StemWave Shockwave Therapy
For disc herniations with a significant inflammatory component or associated soft tissue injury that is not resolving, StemWave shockwave therapy stimulates a healing response in the surrounding tissue that can break a stalled recovery. We use it selectively for the right presentations.
Stabilization and Rehabilitation
The disc herniated for a reason. Usually that reason is a movement pattern that repeatedly overloaded a specific segment. Once we get the acute condition under control, we build in rehabilitation work to correct the faulty mechanics and stabilize the spine so the same disc does not break down again.
When Surgery May Still Be Needed
We want to be straight with you: there are situations where surgery is the right call. Progressive neurological deficit, meaning increasing weakness or loss of sensation rather than just pain, is a red flag that requires surgical evaluation. Loss of bowel or bladder control is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Severe, unrelenting pain that has not responded to several weeks of aggressive conservative treatment may also warrant a surgical consult.
We will tell you honestly if we think you need a surgical evaluation. We are not going to keep treating someone who needs surgery just to keep them on the schedule. But in our clinical experience, the majority of patients who come to us with a herniated disc diagnosis and a recommendation for surgery do not ultimately need that surgery when they commit to a proper conservative care program first.
Call us at (904) 539-3352 or book online. Let's look at what you have and give you an honest assessment of your options.
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