Can a chiropractic adjustment cause a bulging disc in the neck to herniate?

Answer 1

To date there is no evidence to suggest that spinal manipulation, done by a doctor of chiropractic or another health care professional, can cause a bulging disk in the neck or any other area of the spine. Of course, if an adjustment is attempted by an unskilled individual the risks of side-effects are greater, but do not include a bulging disk. A spinal adjustment performed by a skilled professional has very little risk of side effects at all, and the risks that do exist are minor, such as sprains, strains, muscle soreness, headache, nausea, and some risks for fracture.

The thing that you should also realize is that bulging discs are very common in the general population, even if you have no symptoms. Further, chiropractic care is a very helpful treatment for the areas of the spine where there exists a disc bulge of herniation.

They have done biomechanical studies to check the failure of the disc, the point at which it tears. They found that it takes tremendous force to tear the fibers in a disc, and this occurs at 10-13 degrees of rotation. Because of the muscle stretch reflexes and the supportive ligaments in the spine, it is impossible for one person to rotate the spine to the degree that is causes tears in the spine. Bulging discs are usually caused with poor biomechanics over time, and this poor biomechanics is the very thing that chiropractors fix.

Answer 2

To date there is no evidence to suggest that spinal manipulation, done by a doctor of chiropractic or another health care professional, can cause a bulging disk in the neck or any other area of the spine to herniate. Of course, if an adjustment is attempted by an unskilled individual the risks of side-effects are greater, but herniating a disk is very unlikely. A spinal adjustment performed by a skilled professional has very little risk of side effects at all, and the risks that do exist are minor, such as sprains, strains, muscle soreness, headache, nausea, and some risks for fracture.

Answer 3

I don't know, but you should get that checked out anyway.

No, a bulging cervical disc isn't going to cause low Back pain. If the neck pain is intense, your muscles can do what is called guarding, which is where they sort of brace for the pain. That can affect other parts of the body, since everything is interconnected. Like a chain reaction. But the actual disc in the neck is not the direct source of low back pain.

Answer 4

There are well over 100 different headache disorders and diseases. Common headaches related to herniated discs include cervicogenic headache and tension type headache. Migraine is frequently triggered when there are herniated discs in the neck or spine. Successful treatment is dependent entirely upon the correct diagnosis. For appropriate diagnosis and treatment of headache disorders, seek the help of a board certified headache specialist.

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Yes, possibly, a herniated disc could cause headache depending in part on where the problem disc is located ..if you have a disc problem in your neck region it most certainly could cause a headache..or if the pain from a herniated disc elsewhere is severe, the tension that naturally occurs in your body, due to the discomfort, could be the cause of a headache.

If any headache persists for longer than a day or if it is very severe , or accompanied by either a temperature or sickness or dizziness or trouble with vision, or all of these things, you should always see urgent medical help.

Many different kinds of headaches can occur for different reason. Some of no consequence, some serious.

The first step would be to take a pain killer, if you have been prescribed some for the herniated disc.

That should help the headache as well.

However always read the instructions on the pain killers and never take more than the prescribed dose as more does not mean they will kill the pain better, and could be seriously dangerous to your health.

If the painkiller doesn't help, book a telephone consultation with your doctor if the headache persists, or is accompanied by any of the above mentioned symptoms.

If you have not had your herniated disc diagnosed by a doctor, I would suggest that as a first course of action as there are many things he can advise to help shorten the duration of the healing process and pain, which can be quite enduring if you let it heal itself.

Answer 5

Yes, it can.