A disc injury can turn ordinary movements, like bending, sitting, coughing, or getting out of bed, into something you plan around. At Golden Bear, care starts with working out whether your pain is coming from a disc, a joint, or a muscle, then building a plan around what the exam shows.
What a disc problem can feel like
- Low back or neck pain that is worse with bending, lifting, or long periods of sitting
- Pain, tingling, or numbness that travels into a buttock, leg, shoulder, arm, or hand
- Pain that flares when you cough, sneeze, or strain
- Stiffness and guarding that make it hard to find a comfortable position
When chiropractic care may be a good fit
Many disc-related back and neck problems are treated conservatively first, with hands-on care, exercise, and changes to how you move and load your body.[1][6] Not every disc problem is a good fit for chiropractic care, and part of the exam is working out which kind you have. You do not need imaging to start. Disc bulges and other wear-and-tear findings show up on scans of many people with no pain at all, from about 30% of 20-year-olds to more than 80% of 80-year-olds,[2] so a scan alone does not explain your pain. Dr. Corey will let you know if your exam calls for imaging.
When to get medical care instead: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or rapidly worsening weakness in a leg or foot. Get prompt medical care for back or neck pain after a significant fall or accident, pain with a fever, unexplained weight loss, or severe pain that does not ease with rest or wakes you at night.[3][6]
How Dr. Corey evaluates disc injuries
Your 75–90 minute first visit includes a detailed history and a full neurological and orthopedic exam, including:
- How and when the pain started, and what makes it better or worse
- Posture, movement, and range of motion in the spine
- Strength, reflexes, and sensation in the legs or arms
- Tests that help tell a disc-related problem from a joint or muscle problem
- Screening questions and tests to make sure hands-on treatment is appropriate for you
Bring any prior imaging or reports, such as an MRI, an X-ray, or notes from other providers. If anything in your exam calls for a physician's evaluation or imaging, you will be referred before treatment starts.
What treatment may include
- Low-force adjusting techniques and other gentle options
- Muscle work for the back, hips, and surrounding muscles, such as trigger point therapy and myofascial release
- Mobility and strengthening exercises matched to what your exam shows
- Guidance on lifting, sitting, sleeping, and returning to activity
Your care is built around your comfort. You can decline any technique or stop at any point.
Learn about soft-tissue and muscle work →
What your first appointment looks like
Book online, complete your intake forms ahead of time, and plan for 75–90 minutes. The intake visit includes your history, exam, and a treatment plan, plus treatment that day if it is appropriate. Pricing is flat and published before you book. Golden Bear is out-of-network with insurance, and a superbill is available on request.
Frequently asked questions
Can a chiropractor help with a herniated disc?
Some people with disc-related pain improve with conservative care, and many disc problems settle over time. Herniated disc material can even shrink on its own: in a review of studies that rescanned people treated without surgery, larger herniations (extrusions) regressed about 70% of the time and smaller protrusions about 41% of the time,[4] and a study summarized in Souza's chiropractic text found a natural reduction in size in about 63% of patients.[6] Your exam determines whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your situation, and Dr. Corey will refer you to a physician if it is not.
Do I need an MRI before I come in?
No. You do not need imaging to book a first visit. Because disc changes are common even in people without pain,[2] imaging is most useful when your exam points to a specific reason for it. If you already have imaging, bring it. If your exam suggests you need it, you will be referred.
Is it safe to have my back or neck adjusted with a disc problem?
Screening comes first, and low-force approaches are available. Serious complications are rare: one systematic review estimated the risk of a lumbar manipulation seriously worsening a disc herniation at less than 1 in 3.7 million.[5] Your exam determines whether hands-on treatment is appropriate, and you can always choose a gentler option.
Do I need a referral?
No. You do not need a referral to see a chiropractor in California.
Sources
Retrieved through PubMed, plus Souza's chiropractic differential diagnosis text. Numbers in brackets above refer to this list.
- Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B. Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. BMJ. 2019;367:l6273. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6273
- Brinjikji W, Luetmer PH, Comstock B, et al. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015;36(4):811-816. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A4173
- Finucane LM, Downie A, Mercer C, et al. International framework for red flags for potential serious spinal pathologies. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2020;50(7):350-372. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.9971
- Chiu CC, Chuang TY, Chang KH, Wu CH, Lin PW, Hsu WY. The probability of spontaneous regression of lumbar herniated disc: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2015;29(2):184-195. doi:10.1177/0269215514540919
- Oliphant D. Safety of spinal manipulation in the treatment of lumbar disk herniations: a systematic review and risk assessment. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2004;27(3):197-210. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2003.12.023
- Souza TA. Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor: Protocols and Algorithms. 3rd ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2005:128-129.
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Chiropractor for back pain in San Leandro →