QuestionThree years ago I received whiplash from a car wreck in which my car was hit from the rear (low impact). After seeing neurologists who suggested surgery, I am wanting to see a chiropractor. One neurologist said a disk was herniated and the other said no it is bulge.
My question, is it safe for me to see a chiropractor and what should I expect as treatment for the neck pain and stiffiness?
Thank you,
Ann
AnswerAnn,
First off: Yes it is safe for you to see a chiropractor if all you have is a disc bulge or herniation. Often the terms bulge, herniation, and protrusion get used to describe the same disc problem. Some have declared that a bulge is simply that, a broad bulging of the disc. This would be like letting the air 1/2 way out of your car tire and noting how it bulges out. A protrusion is a smaller, more focal bulging of the disc. Herniation is used to describe a disc that has ruptured or extruded into the nerve canal or your spinal canal. MRI will tell you if it is a broad-based bulge, a focal protrusion, or a herniation. Without MRI, it's merely a guess. So long as you have all of your arm reflexes and arm/hand/finger muscle strengths, then you are quite safe to be treated by a chiropractor. Treatment may include neck joint mobilization and manipulation, tractioning, and exercises. Treatments that tend not to work include electric stimulation and ice packs. Heat also won't cure your disc, but it can help you relax prior to the chiropractor working on you. You should note improvement within a few weeks of treatment. If you are no better after about six treatment sessions, then you and your chiropractor need to discuss why. Some people need a few months of care, with tapering off of treatment along the way. But most everyone that is likely to respond to treatment will show a little improvement right away. Lastly, there are some adverse side effects of neck joint manipulation, including post-treatment soreness, that your chiropractor should review with you.
I hope this was helpful.
Dr. G
