Can chiropractors treat a “slipped disk?”
There is actually no such thing as a “slipped” disc. The intervertrebral discs are a cushioning piece of tissue that lie between each bone of the spine. There are two parts to the disk, the annulus (the tough part, like gristle) and the nucleus (a soft center, about the consistency of peanut butter). If the spinal vertebra tilt and create a wedge, the nucleus can bulge toward the open end of the wedge area. This can cause undue pressure on the spinal nerve roots or on the spinal cord. If the annulus becomes torn (partially or fully) the nucleus can migrate into the tear, putting even more pressure on spinal nerves or on the cord. The correct terminology for this is a “herniated” or “bulging” disc. Chiropractors can (gently) treat a herniated disk, within all but the most severe tears. Dr. Hanft is trained in Lumbar (low back) Flexion/Distraction which is technique specifically designed to treat and alleviate conditions regarding the low back and herniated discs.
