disc issues Raleigh, NC

OVERVIEW

Chiropractic Care for Disc Injuries and Disc Disease

The intervertebral discs of the spine are remarkable structures — tough, fibrous rings filled with a gel-like center that act as shock absorbers between each vertebra. When healthy, they allow the spine to move freely and distribute load efficiently. When injured or degenerated, they can be a significant source of pain — both locally in the back or neck, and radiating into the arms or legs.

At Midtown Chiropractic Clinic in Raleigh, we treat a full range of disc conditions using non-surgical, drug-free approaches that address the underlying spinal dysfunction contributing to disc stress and injury.
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TYPES OF DISC CONDITIONS

Disc Conditions We Treat

Disc Herniation — A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner material (nucleus pulposus) pushes through a tear in the outer ring (annulus fibrosus) and presses against nearby nerves. This is one of the most common causes of radiating arm or leg pain.

Bulging Disc — A bulging disc has not ruptured but extends outside its normal space, potentially contacting and irritating nerve structures. Often an earlier stage of disc herniation.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) — As discs age or are subjected to cumulative stress, they can lose hydration and height, reducing their shock-absorbing capacity and contributing to joint stiffness, pain, and spinal instability.

Disc Protrusion & Extrusion — More advanced forms of disc herniation where the nuclear material has protruded significantly or broken free, often causing more severe nerve compression symptoms.

Internal Disc Disruption — Tears within the disc’s inner structure that cause pain without visible herniation on imaging — often underdiagnosed and a significant source of chronic low back pain.

SYMPTOMS

Disc Problem Symptoms

  • Local back or neck pain, often sharp or deep
  • Radiating pain into the arm (cervical disc) or leg (lumbar disc)
  • Numbness, tingling, or burning in the extremities
  • Muscle weakness in the arm or leg
  • Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, or lifting
  • Stiffness and limited range of spinal motion
  • Symptoms that improve with lying down

Contact us today at (919) 873-2225

TREATMENT

Our Non-Surgical Disc Treatment Approach

Spinal Adjustments — Specific chiropractic techniques restore proper joint motion and reduce abnormal mechanical loading on injured discs, creating conditions favorable for healing.

Manual Traction — Gentle manual traction decompresses the affected disc segments, reducing intradiscal pressure and relieving nerve root irritation — particularly effective for disc herniations with radicular symptoms.

Laser Therapy — Photobiomodulation (laser therapy) penetrates deep into the disc and surrounding tissues to reduce inflammation, promote cellular repair, and decrease nerve sensitization.

Core Rehabilitation — Rebuilding the deep spinal stabilizers — particularly the multifidus and transverse abdominis — is essential for protecting recovering discs and preventing re-injury.

Disc Problems Are Treatable Without Surgery

Most disc conditions respond well to conservative chiropractic care. Let us help. Call us at (919) 873-2225