Living with a herniated disc and wary of anything forceful?
A herniated disc can turn ordinary things, like sitting at a desk, bending over a sink or turning your head, into a worry. You may feel pain in your neck or back, or tingling and weakness in an arm or leg. Our adjustments are light and precise, and our exams look at how your whole spine is carrying its load.
What is a herniated disc?
Discs are the soft cushions between the bones of your spine, with a firm outer ring and a gel-like center. When some of that center pushes out through a weak spot in the ring, the disc is called herniated or bulging. It can happen in the neck or lower back, and it may press on a nearby nerve.
A scan alone does not tell the whole story, and not every herniated disc causes pain. In the lower back, worsening leg weakness, numbness around the groin or loss of bladder or bowel control needs emergency care right away. In the neck, new clumsiness in the hands, trouble walking or balancing, or growing arm weakness does too.
Common signs include:
- Neck or back pain that is worse in certain positions
- Pain that travels into an arm, hand, buttock or leg
- Tingling, numbness or pins and needles
- Weakness in an arm or leg, or a weaker grip
- Pain that grows with coughing, sneezing or sitting
- Stiffness and muscle spasms around the sore area
- Natural wear that dries out and thins discs over the years
- Lifting, especially with a twist
- Repeated bending or heavy physical work
- A fall, car accident or sports injury
- Long hours of sitting with a rounded back or a head held forward
- A family tendency toward weaker discs
What causes a herniated disc?
Discs tend to weaken gradually, so a herniation often comes from several things working together:
The head is heavy, and when it sits off center on the atlas (C1), the spine below may lean or curve to compensate, which can load some discs more than others. Upper cervical chiropractors look closely at that balance, because uneven load day after day may be one factor in how discs hold up.
How upper cervical care can help
Our goal is never to force a disc anywhere. Instead we look at the conditions around it: how your head and upper neck are positioned, how your posture spreads your weight, and how your muscles are responding. Your exam, posture evaluation and 3D imaging of your cervical spine give us a picture of the load your spine carries and where it may be uneven.
Because discs and the nerves beside them can be sensitive, we match each adjustment to your exam and imaging. Adjustments are manual or instrument-assisted, light and gentle. Our aim is to help your body carry its weight more evenly, so that sensitive areas may have room to calm down. Tell us about any scans or diagnoses you have already had so we can take them into account.
Low-force adjustments
A sensitive disc usually calls for a light touch. There is no twisting, cracking or popping of the neck or back.
Your scans, in context
Your MRI or other imaging tells part of the story. We add our own exam, posture software and 3D imaging of your neck to understand your whole spine.
Even loading, top to bottom
A disc in the lower back can be affected by what the head and neck are doing above it. We look for patterns that put extra load on one area.
Working alongside your doctors
If you are seeing a spine specialist or physical therapist, tell us. Our care can sit alongside theirs, and we will say so if a referral is the right next step.
What to expect
Day 1
Your first visit
A consultation with the doctor at the office you choose, a thorough exam, and 3D imaging of your cervical spine with our CBCT scanner. We also do a detailed posture evaluation with advanced software, neurological testing and muscle assessments.
Day 2
Your report of findings
The doctor goes over your history, your exam and posture results, your neurological findings and your 3D images with you, and explains a care plan made for you.
Ongoing
Gentle care, checked as you go
Gentle upper cervical adjustments with no twisting, cracking or popping, and regular progress checks so your plan follows how you are doing.
Why choose Apollo?
Specialized care
We focus on upper cervical chiropractic, a highly targeted and refined approach.
A plan made for you
Every patient is different. Your care plan is built around your own exam and your 3D imaging.
Gentle, with no cracking
Our methods are very gentle: no twisting, cracking or popping.
An experienced doctor
Dr. Kosta Tsakalos brings deep clinical experience and a caring, detail-oriented approach to every visit.
Every person is different, and results vary. Read what our patients say on our testimonials page.
Let us help you get started
If you are dealing with a herniated disc, we are here to help. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kosta Tsakalos and find out whether upper cervical chiropractic care is right for you.
Related conditions we help with
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If your symptoms are sudden or severe, please seek medical care right away.