Herniated Disc Treatment in Lynnwood
A herniated or bulging disc can make everyday activities like sitting, walking, or sleeping difficult. Disc irritation often leads to sharp, aching, or radiating pain that may travel into the hips, legs, or arms.
At Alderwood Back and Neck Pain in Lynnwood, WA, Dr. Darcy Szigety, DC provides conservative, non-surgical, medication-free care focused on the root cause of your discomfort. Treatment plans are built from a thorough history, physical exam, and imaging when appropriate.
Chiropractic care is used to improve how the spine, joints, muscles, and nerves work together, helping your body move more comfortably with less pain. If you are unsure what is causing your disc symptoms or nerve pain, a focused evaluation is the best place to begin.
Call (425) 775-6767 to schedule your complimentary consultation.
What is Herniated Disc
A herniated disc happens when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes or leaks outward and irritates nearby structures, often a nerve. Some people call it a slipped disc. Others hear terms like bulging disc, protrusion, or disc herniation and feel overwhelmed. The idea is the same. That disc is not handling load the way it should.
In Dr. Szigety’s experience, disc issues often show up in the lower back or neck after years of posture stress, repetitive lifting, or a specific event like an auto accident. Pain can be local, or it can travel into the leg or arm when a nerve is involved. At Alderwood Back and Neck Pain, herniated disc treatment in Lynnwood, WA is focused on calming irritation and helping the spine move in a safer, more supported way.
Causes of Herniated Discs
Herniated and bulging discs usually come from a combination of everyday stress and specific events. In Dr. Szigety’s practice, she often sees disc issues after years of poor posture, heavy or repetitive lifting, and long hours sitting without much core support.
Sudden forces can also play a role. Auto collisions and sports injuries can stretch and damage the ligaments and discs in the spine, leading to what patients sometimes call a “bursting disc.” Age-related disc dehydration and arthritis can narrow the space around nerves, making it easier for a small injury to turn into a big flare-up. The good news is that many of these factors are modifiable. With the right guidance on movement, posture, and strength, you can often reduce stress on the discs and support better healing.
Symptoms of Herniated Disc
Patients with a suspected herniated or bulging disc come in with a mix of symptoms. Dr. Szigety hears a lot of stories about pain that started in the back, then began spreading into a leg or up into the shoulder and arm. Common things we see include:
- Local back or neck pain that feels sharp, achy, or burning
- Sciatica-type pain that shoots from the lower back into the buttock, leg, or foot
- Pain that travels into the shoulder, arm, or fingers with cervical discs
- Numbness, tingling, or “pins and needles” along a nerve path
- A feeling of weakness or heaviness in part of the arm or leg
- Pain that flares with sitting, bending, lifting, coughing, or sneezing
- Trouble standing up straight or getting comfortable enough to sleep
If these patterns sound familiar, especially on one side, it is a good idea to get checked for disc involvement.
How Do You Diagnose a Herniated Disc?
When someone comes in with possible disc pain, Dr. Darcy starts with a real conversation, not just a quick once-over. She asks when the pain started, whether it feels acute or more chronic, what makes it better or worse, and what your typical day looks like, including work and habits.
Next is a focused physical exam. This can include orthopedic tests, neurological checks for strength, reflexes, and sensation, posture and alignment review, and range of motion and functional testing to see which movements light things up. Palpation is a big part of chiropractic. Dr. Szigety carefully feels each spinal level and surrounding muscles to tell what feels normal and what does not.
Most disc cases also get X-rays to study structure and rule out red flags. If symptoms suggest a herniated disc or you are not improving, she may refer you for an MRI and co-manage with pain management or orthopedic specialists when needed. After reviewing everything, she explains the findings in plain language and lays out next steps.
Treatment for Herniated Disc
At Alderwood Back and Neck Pain, herniated disc treatment in Lynnwood, WA is built around careful, conservative care. Dr. Darcy uses chiropractic adjustments to improve joint motion and reduce irritation in the areas around the disc, often with Diversified technique, drop-table, or gentle instrument-assisted tools like an Activator-style device or ArthroStim-type adjuster.
She often pairs adjustments with soft tissue therapy, including massage, myofascial release, and trigger point work for tight, overworked muscles. As pain calms down, she adds therapeutic exercises and rehabilitation to strengthen your core and hips and help your spine handle daily stress better. Lifestyle and posture coaching are part of the plan so you are not constantly recreating the same problem.
For some disc cases, Dr. Szigety may also use heat and cold therapies, cryotherapy, and Class IV laser to support tissue healing and pain control. Care is always non-surgical and medication-free, and the pace is adapted to your comfort and response.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Disc problems usually do not flip off like a light switch. For many patients, the first changes are small wins like less sharp pain, easier walking, or fewer intense nerve zaps. Dr. Szigety often sees people start to notice these shifts within two to three weeks of consistent care, especially when they follow home advice.
Discogenic injuries, including herniated or “bursting” discs, often need closer to two to three months of focused treatment to calm down and stabilize. Early on, visits tend to be more frequent, then they gradually space out as your body responds and rehab becomes a bigger piece of the plan.
Your timeline depends on how long the disc has been irritated, how severe the symptoms are, your age, work demands, and how consistent you are with visits and exercises. There are no guarantees, but you will always get honest expectations and checkpoints along the way.
Long-Term Consequences of Untreated Herniated Disc
Ignoring disc-related pain and hoping it just “works itself out” can backfire over time. A herniated or bulging disc that keeps getting irritated may lead to more frequent and intense flare-ups, longer recovery after minor activities, and more stiffness in the surrounding joints.
Because nerves can be involved, ongoing inflammation may also increase the risk of numbness, tingling, or weakness along that nerve path if the problem is never addressed. You might start changing the way you move to avoid pain, which can overload your hips, knees, or upper back and create new issues on top of the original disc problem.
Not every disc injury turns into a crisis, but waiting months or years without a proper evaluation can limit your options. Early, non-surgical herniated disc care helps you understand what is going on and gives you a plan to protect your mobility and quality of life.
At-Home Help for Flare-Ups
For a herniated disc flare-up, gentle is the vibe. Short, frequent walks are often better than long bouts of sitting or lying still. Try positions of relief, like lying on your back with your legs supported on a chair. Use ice for 10 to 15 minutes at a time during the first couple of days, then light heat for tight muscles if appropriate. Avoid heavy lifting, deep bending, and self-cracking. Get evaluated before starting intense exercises.
Case Studies
A patient in their late 40s came in after a rear-end collision with neck and lower back pain plus tingling into one arm. Sitting at work and driving were rough, and sleep was inconsistent. Dr. Szigety’s exam found a limited range of motion, muscle guarding, and positive orthopedic tests suggesting disc involvement, so she ordered X-rays and later referred for an MRI. The MRI showed multiple bulging discs in the neck and low back.
The care plan combined chiropractic adjustments, and gradual rehab, while pain management added medication and physical therapy. Over about three to four months, flare-ups shortened and strength and motion improved. At home, the patient used ice during bad days, did gentle mobility exercises, adjusted their workstation, and followed posture tips for driving. By discharge, they could work full days and sleep with only occasional soreness instead of constant pain.
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FAQs
What can I do for temporary pain relief from a herniated disc?
Gentle movement is usually better than total bed rest. Short walks, supported positions, and using ice during sharp flare-ups can help calm things down. Later, light heat may relax muscles. Avoid heavy lifting or twisting until you have been evaluated. Your specific home plan will depend on what Dr. Szigety finds in your exam.
How can a disc be involved if I did not have a big injury?
Disc issues are not always from one dramatic event. They can build up slowly from posture strain, repetitive lifting, or years of sitting without good support. One small movement or “wrong step” can be the final trigger. The exam helps sort out whether your pain is disc-related or coming from joints, muscles, or a mix.
Does insurance cover herniated disc treatment with a chiropractor?
Many insurance plans include benefits for chiropractic care, especially for spine-related pain, but coverage details vary a lot. Our front desk can check your benefits, explain expected costs, and help you understand your options before you start care. If you do not have coverage, we can talk about payment plans and visit frequency that fit your situation.
Is a herniated disc just part of aging?
Age-related disc and joint changes are common, but painful herniations are not something you just have to accept. Think of aging as one risk factor among many. Your posture, activity level, strength, and past injuries all matter. Conservative care aims to reduce irritation, improve motion, and help you stay as active and independent as possible.
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