Top 5 Signs You May Have Slipped Discs

Slipped discs, also known as herniated discs, can cause immense pain and interfere with your daily life. These occur when the tough outer layer of your vertebral disc cracks, causing the jelly-like interior to spill onto the spinal nerves. Ireland Clinic of Chiropractic in Anchorage, AK, can treat your slipped disc with safe and effective chiropractic care. Continue reading to learn the top five signs indicating you have a slipped disc.

Pain or Numbness in Your Back

The most common sign of a slipped disc is pain and numbness in your back. Slipped discs in the lower back can lead to pain and numbness in your lower back, hips, buttocks, and legs, while a slipped disc in the upper back causes back, shoulder, and upper arm pain.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve begins in your lower back and travels down each buttock into your legs. A slipped disc can irritate the sciatic nerve and cause sciatica. This condition can cause pain in your lower back, hips, buttocks, or legs. You may also experience numbness, burning, or tingling sensations in these areas.

Pain When Sitting

Another sign you have a slipped disc is when you experience increased pain after sitting for prolonged periods. Sitting adds pressure on your lower back and spinal column. Slipped discs can worsen due to this extra pressure, causing intense pain while sitting.

Increased Pain With Certain Activities

Certain activities can exacerbate slipped disc pain. Bending forward or reaching down can increase your back pain if you have a slipped disc. Coughing and sneezing can also trigger pain. Other activities that worsen slipped disc pain include lifting, pushing, or pulling a heavy object.

Sudden Pain

While slipped discs often occur over time due to natural wear and tear of your vertebral discs, sudden pain in your back may indicate an injury or condition caused your disc to herniate. You likely have a slipped disc if you experience sudden localized pain on one side of your body.

Experience Lasting Pain Relief by Visiting the Ireland Clinic of Chiropractic Today

Slipped discs can cause severe pain and limited mobility if left untreated, so contact the Ireland Clinic of Chiropractic in Anchorage, AK, for the treatment necessary to feel like yourself again. We can use chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy to alleviate pain and restore your range of motion, so call us and schedule a consultation today at (907) 561-1222.