Herniated Disc Treatment: Relief Without Surgery
Your doctor just told you that you have a herniated disc. Now they’re talking about surgery, and you’re terrified. The pain is bad—shooting down your leg, numbness in your foot, and you can’t sit for more than twenty minutes without agony. But surgery? That’s a last resort, right?
Here’s what most people don’t know: the vast majority of herniated discs don’t require surgery. Conservative treatment—chiropractic care, spinal decompression, physical therapy—successfully treats most disc problems without ever going under the knife.
At Twin Cities Chiropractic in St. Paul, we’ve been treating herniated discs for over 20 years. We’ve helped hundreds of patients avoid surgery and get back to a normal life. Let me explain what a herniated disc actually is, how we treat it, and why surgery shouldn’t be your first option.
What is a Herniated Disc?
Your spine has 24 vertebrae stacked on top of each other, and between each vertebra is a disc—a cushion that absorbs shock and allows your spine to move. Think of a disc like a jelly donut: tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus) with soft, gel-like center (nucleus pulposus).
A herniated disc happens when the outer layer tears or weakens, and the inner gel pushes out. Sometimes it’s called a “ruptured disc” or “slipped disc,” though the disc doesn’t actually slip anywhere—it just bulges or ruptures.
When that gel material pushes out, it can press on nearby nerves. That’s when you get the severe symptoms—shooting pain, numbness, tingling, weakness. The disc itself might not hurt that much, but the nerve compression? That’s excruciating.
Bulging disc vs. herniated disc: A bulging disc is when the disc protrudes, but the outer layer hasn’t torn. A herniated disc means the outer layer has actually ruptured, and the inner material is leaking out. Herniation is more serious, but both can cause significant pain.
Most herniated discs happen in your lower back (lumbar spine), but they can also occur in your neck (cervical spine). Lower back herniations typically cause sciatica and shooting leg pain. Neck herniations cause neck pain and arm numbness.
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc
Lower back pain is usually the first sign, but not always. Some people have a herniated disc with minimal back pain but severe leg symptoms.
Sciatica—shooting pain down your leg—is the classic herniated disc symptom. The pain typically runs from your lower back through your buttocks and down the back of your leg. It might go all the way to your foot. This happens because the herniated disc is pressing on your sciatic nerve.
Numbness or tingling in your leg or foot. You might feel like your foot is “asleep” or notice patches of numbness along your leg. This is a nerve compression affecting sensation.
Weakness in your leg or foot. You might notice your leg feels unstable, or you have trouble lifting your foot when walking (foot drop). This is serious nerve compression that needs immediate attention.
Pain that worsens with certain movements. Sitting usually makes it worse because it increases pressure on the disc. Bending forward, coughing, or sneezing can send sharp pain shooting down your leg. Lying down often provides relief because it takes pressure off the disc.
For cervical (neck) herniated discs, symptoms include neck pain, shoulder pain, pain radiating down your arm, numbness or tingling in your hand or fingers, and weakness in your arm or hand.
What Causes Herniated Discs?
Aging and wear-and-tear are the most common causes. As you get older, your discs lose water content and become less flexible. They’re more prone to tearing or rupturing with even minor strain. This is called degenerative disc disease, and it’s a normal part of aging.
Sudden injury or trauma can herniate a disc. Lifting something heavy with poor form, twisting while lifting, or a sudden impact can cause the disc to rupture.
Car accidents are a major cause of herniated discs. The force of impact, especially in rear-end collisions, can damage discs in your neck or lower back. Many herniated discs from car accidents aren’t diagnosed immediately because symptoms take days to fully develop.
Sports injuries from high-impact activities or repetitive stress can cause disc problems. Athletes who do a lot of twisting, bending, or heavy lifting are at higher risk. Sports-related disc injuries need proper treatment to prevent long-term problems.
Repetitive strain from work or daily activities. If your job involves repetitive bending, lifting, or sitting for long periods, you’re putting constant stress on your discs. Workplace lifting injuries often result in herniated discs.
Poor lifting technique is a huge factor. Bending at your waist instead of your knees, twisting while holding weight, or jerking movements while lifting can cause a disc to herniate instantly.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Here’s the good news: most herniated discs heal with conservative treatment. Surgery is only necessary in a small percentage of cases.
Chiropractic adjustments address spinal misalignment that’s putting extra pressure on the herniated disc. When your vertebrae are properly aligned, it takes stress off the disc and allows it to heal. Chiropractic adjustments for herniated discs are gentle and specific—we’re not doing aggressive manipulations on an injured disc.
Spinal decompression therapy is our primary treatment for herniated discs. This non-surgical treatment uses a specialized table to gently stretch your spine, creating negative pressure inside the disc. That negative pressure can actually pull the herniated material back into place and take pressure off compressed nerves. Spinal decompression is comfortable, effective, and has high success rates for disc problems.
Physical therapy and exercises strengthen the muscles supporting your spine, improve flexibility, and teach you proper movement patterns. Weak core muscles contribute to disc problems, so strengthening your abs, back, and hips is crucial for recovery and prevention.
Manual therapy addresses muscle spasms and tension that develop around a herniated disc. Your muscles tighten up to protect the injured area, but that tension can actually make things worse. Combining chiropractic with manual therapy gives better results than either treatment alone.
Rest and activity modification during the acute phase. You don’t want to stay in bed for weeks, but you do need to avoid activities that aggravate the disc. We’ll give you specific guidelines on what to avoid and how to modify your daily activities.
Anti-inflammatory measures like ice in the first 48 hours, then heat to relax muscles and improve blood flow. We’ll give you detailed instructions on when to use ice vs. heat.
How We Treat Herniated Discs at Twin Cities Chiropractic
When you come to our St. Paul office with a suspected herniated disc, here’s our approach:
Comprehensive evaluation starts with a detailed history and physical exam. Dr. Sorum will test your reflexes, muscle strength, sensation, and range of motion. We’ll do specific tests to identify which disc is herniated and how severely it’s affecting the nerve.
Imaging if needed. X-rays show us spinal alignment, but don’t show discs. If we need to see the actual disc, we’ll refer you for an MRI. Sometimes we can diagnose and treat based on clinical findings alone, but an MRI is helpful for severe cases.
Spinal decompression therapy is our go-to treatment for herniated discs. You’ll lie on a specialized table, and we’ll use computerized traction to gently stretch your spine. Treatment sessions last about 20-30 minutes and are completely comfortable. Most patients need 20-30 sessions over 6-8 weeks for full results.
Targeted chiropractic adjustments to areas above and below the herniated disc. We’re careful not to manipulate the injured segment aggressively, but adjusting the surrounding areas takes pressure off the damaged disc.
Manual therapy from Joy to release muscle spasms in your back and legs. The muscles around a herniated disc get incredibly tight, and releasing that tension helps with pain and mobility.
Rehabilitation exercises to strengthen your core and improve flexibility. We’ll give you specific exercises to do at home that support your treatment and prevent re-injury.
Success rates and timelines: Most people with herniated discs see significant improvement within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment. Complete healing can take 2-3 months. Some people feel relief after just a few decompression sessions, while others need the full course of treatment.
When Surgery Might Be Necessary
I’m being honest here: surgery is sometimes necessary. But it should be a last resort after conservative treatment has failed.
Red flag symptoms that might require immediate surgical consultation:
- Cauda equina syndrome (loss of bowel or bladder control, severe weakness in both legs, numbness in the groin area)
- Progressive weakness that’s getting worse despite treatment
- Severe pain that doesn’t improve at all with conservative treatment after 6-8 weeks
Failed conservative treatment. If you’ve done 2-3 months of proper conservative treatment—chiropractic care, spinal decompression, physical therapy—and you’re not improving, surgery might be the right option.
Significant neurological deficits. If you have severe weakness, loss of function, or progressive nerve damage, surgery might be necessary to prevent permanent damage.
But here’s the thing: most people don’t fall into these categories. Most herniated discs respond well to conservative treatment, and surgery can be avoided.
Prevention and Recovery
Once your herniated disc heals, preventing future problems is crucial.
Core strengthening is non-negotiable. Strong abs, back, and hip muscles support your spine and take pressure off your discs. We’ll teach you specific exercises that actually work.
Proper lifting technique can prevent future disc injuries. Always bend at your knees, keep the weight close to your body, avoid twisting while lifting, and don’t try to lift things that are too heavy.
Posture correction matters. If you sit at a desk all day, a proper ergonomic setup reduces stress on your discs. We’ll evaluate your workstation and give you specific recommendations.
Ongoing maintenance care helps prevent recurrence. Many patients continue with periodic chiropractic adjustments and occasional decompression sessions to keep their spines healthy long-term.
Don’t Rush Into Surgery
If you’ve just been diagnosed with a herniated disc, don’t panic. And don’t rush into surgery without trying conservative treatment first.
Surgery has risks—infection, failed back surgery syndrome, scar tissue formation, and nerve damage. Recovery is long and painful. And here’s the kicker: many people who have surgery still have pain afterward.
Conservative treatment is safe, effective, and gives you the best chance of long-term recovery without the risks and complications of surgery.
At Twin Cities Chiropractic, we specialize in treating herniated discs without surgery. Dr. Sorum has over 20 years of experience, and our spinal decompression therapy has helped hundreds of patients avoid surgery and get back to normal life.
Dealing with a herniated disc in St. Paul? Contact Twin Cities Chiropractic at 506 N. Lexington Parkway. We specialize in non-surgical herniated disc treatment with spinal decompression, chiropractic adjustments, and rehabilitation. Call today for an evaluation.