Only those who have actually experienced pinched nerves can understand how it affects all the areas of a person’s life. Pain that originates from pinched nerves due to a slipped disc can spread to the legs. This is known as sciatica. Sufferers might also experience numbness of the hands and feet.

Those searching for alternative therapies to deal with the pain associated with a slipped disc or pinched nerve can find what they are looking for at NUCCA chiropractor. These professional health care practitioners use safe, gentle and effective treatment methods which do not require medication.

The spine is a complicated structure consisting of separate bones which are fused together. The main function of the vertebrae in the spine is to protect the spinal cord while allowing the individual to move freely. Each vertebra is separated by a disc that is flexible and provides cushioning properties for each vertebra.

Problems occur when the discs start to lose their water content. Just like most areas of the body, they lose water with age and become dehydrated. This dehydration can lead to the disc developing cracks and fissures. If a disc becomes inflexible, the chances of it being dislodged and functioning improperly increases exponentially. Even a seemingly harmless movement or action may cause the dislodging of the disc as the body ages.

The spine has many nerves running along its entire length. These nerves are particularly sensitive and when pinched by the protruding disc, can cause incredible pain in both the back and the legs. A chiropractor will not simply ‘pop’ a disc back into place. A long process of manipulation and exercise that makes up a complete chiropractic plan of care may be required.

Before any plan of care can be devised, a full investigation will be conducted in order to get a clear indication of exactly which disc is causing the problems. The chiropractor will insist on talking to the patient beforehand to ascertain certain lifestyle choices, working conditions, medical history, and specifics of the pain.

It is sometimes necessary to complete a series of scans to gather more accurate information. Many clinicians now opt for MRI scanning to obtain more accurate results. Once all the information has been gathered, a schedule of care can be initiated. The chiropractor will normally have the ultimate objective of ‘retraining’ the musculoskeletal bio-mechanics of the individual so that the disc gradually returns to its original position without the need for surgery.