In Motion Chiropractic

43 Main Street #1

Dover, NH 03820 US

603-516-0990

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • Request Appointment
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • What to Expect
      • Your First Visit
      • Phase 1: Relief Care
      • Phase 2: Corrective Care
      • Phase 3: Wellness Care
    • Virtual Office Tour
    • Health Resources
    • Payment Options
  • Laser Therapy
    • How does laser therapy work?
    • What does laser therapy treat?
    • Are there any contraindications?
    • What to expect
    • Should I take any precautions after treatment?
    • How many sessions are necessary?
    • How much does it cost?
  • About Us
    • Meet the Doctors
    • Services & Techniques
    • Our Wellness Partners
    • Our Building
  • Success Stories
  • Office Hours
  • Contact Us
  • Email the Dr.
  • Business Partnerships
  • Community Content
    • About Chiropractic Care
      • What is Chiropractic
      • How Does it Work
      • Who is Chiropractic For
      • Vertebral Subluxation
      • Wellness Resources
    • Common Conditions Treated
      • Auto Accident Injuries
      • Back and Shoulder Pain
      • Body Pain
      • Chronic Condition Relief
        • Conditions Affecting Women
        • Headaches
      • Herniated Discs
      • Improved Health
      • Pediatric Ailments
      • Repetitive Use Injuries
      • Respiratory Function
    • Health & Wellness
      • Healthy Thinking
        • Get Positive
        • Relaxation Techniques
      • Life in Motion
      • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
        • Treat Yourself Well
        • Treat Others Well
        • Eat Well
      • Wellness Essentials
        • At Home
        • At Work
        • Exercise
        • Nutrition
        • What You Wear
      • Wellness Perspectives
        • Mental
        • Spiritual
        • Social
        • Physical
    • Therapies & Techniques
      • Techniques
      • Therapies
    • Newsletter Library
      • Back, Body & Joint Pain
      • Healthy Tips
      • Exercise & Fitness
      • Injury Rehab & Prevention
      • Kid's Health
      • Illness Prevention
      • Chronic Conditions
      • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
      • Breaking Bad Habits
      • Senior Health
      • Weight Loss
      • Pregnancy & Parenting
      • Wellness
      • Mind-Body Connection
      • Stress & Anxiety
      • Life-Work Balance
      • Staying Young
      • Staying Motivated
    • Wellness4Kids
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • Back, Body & Joint Pain >
  • Back Pain and Herniated Discs

Back Pain and Herniated Discs

  • Created in Newsletter Library, Back, Body & Joint Pain

A 30-year-old mom bends over to pick up her four-year-old and feels a sharp stabbing pain in her lower back. A 60-year-old man bends over to pick up his five-year-old grandchild and feels an electrical shooting pain in his lower back. For both, the pain is so severe they need to sit down.

The next day, both the mom and the grandfather notice they now have pain and numbness radiating down one leg, and they are having trouble walking.

What's going on, how did it happen, and what can be done about it?

First of all, a little basic anatomy is useful. Spinal discs are weight-bearing shock absorbers. They contain a gel-like ball-bearing center, which is surrounded by tough fibrous cartilage, arranged in concentric, criss-crossing circles.1

As a person gets older, the discs naturally lose some of their water content, and cracks and fissures naturally develop in the fibrous cartilage. If a weight-bearing stress is unusual and unexpected, the gel-like material in the center of the disc can push through one of the fissures and possibly irritate a spinal nerve.

If enough of this material pushes through, the nerve can become inflamed and cause symptoms such as radiating pain and/or numbness, and possibly weakness, in one leg.

Typically, such pain and/or numbness radiates down the leg, traveling below the knee and possibly into the foot.

Such symptoms, with or without back pain, are highly suggestive of an inflamed spinal nerve. In fact, the person will usually say the leg symptoms are much worse and of greater concern than any back pain that may be present.

If the MRI confirms the disc herniation and suggests an inflamed nerve, the diagnosis is complete. What's next?

In the best scenario, conservative treatment may be sufficient and the nerve inflammation improves with time.2,3 Anti-inflammatory medication may be helpful. Chiropractic conservative therapy may include physical therapeutic modalities and gentle trigger point therapy to relieve associated muscle spasms.

A spinal surgeon should be consulted to provide an additional opinion and input. If pain is severe and there is neurologic loss, surgery may be the best option.

Of course, the best management, as always, is prevention. Pay attention to safe lifting procedures. Exercise regularly and get sufficient rest. Your chiropractor will be able to provide guidance and recommend effective protocols to help you achieve and maintain good health and wellness.

1Postacchini F: Lumbar Disc Herniation. Springer, 2004, Chapter 2.
2Rothoerl RD, et al: When should conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation be ceased and surgery considered? Neurosurg Rev 25(3):162-165, 2002.
3Lumbar Disc Herniation. New Engl J Med 347(21):1728-1729, 2002.

  • About Chiropractic Care
    • What is Chiropractic
    • How Does it Work
    • Who is Chiropractic For
    • Vertebral Subluxation
    • Wellness Resources
  • Common Conditions Treated
    • Auto Accident Injuries
    • Back and Shoulder Pain
    • Body Pain
    • Chronic Condition Relief
      • Conditions Affecting Women
      • Headaches
    • Herniated Discs
    • Improved Health
    • Pediatric Ailments
    • Repetitive Use Injuries
    • Respiratory Function
  • Health & Wellness
    • Healthy Thinking
      • Get Positive
      • Relaxation Techniques
    • Life in Motion
    • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
      • Treat Yourself Well
      • Treat Others Well
      • Eat Well
    • Wellness Essentials
      • At Home
      • At Work
      • Exercise
      • Nutrition
      • What You Wear
    • Wellness Perspectives
      • Mental
      • Spiritual
      • Social
      • Physical
  • Therapies & Techniques
    • Techniques
    • Therapies
  • Newsletter Library
    • Back, Body & Joint Pain
    • Healthy Tips
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Injury Rehab & Prevention
    • Kid's Health
    • Illness Prevention
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
    • Breaking Bad Habits
    • Senior Health
    • Weight Loss
    • Pregnancy & Parenting
    • Wellness
    • Mind-Body Connection
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Life-Work Balance
    • Staying Young
    • Staying Motivated
  • Wellness4Kids
No embed code settings found. Please configure it

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am - 11:00 am

Two per month

Sunday:

Closed

Office Hours - Portsmouth

Monday:

Closed

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

3:00 pm-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

3:00 pm-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

3:00 pm-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

3:00 pm-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Laser Hours

Monday:

Monday 3-6 (Dover)

Tuesday:

Tuesday 8-12 (Portsmouth), 3-6 (Dover)

Wednesday:

Wednesday 8-12 (Dover)

Thursday:

Closed

Friday:

Friday 3-5 (Dover)

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Locations

Find us on the map

Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "Although I still have the occasional headache, the daily and sometimes debilitating ones have subsided. I highly recommend In Motion Chiropractic to anyone that is looking for that personal touch that has pain or is just looking to maintain their health."
    Stacey L.
  • "First time in about 16 years that my jaw joint has been in alignment. No more clicking. Even if it takes years to retrain my bite, this was an unexpected fabulous surprise that came from my treatment."
    Sarah
  • "This team is exceptional in every way! They’re so committed to their clients’ overall health and experience. I’ll never go any where else!"
    Christine
  • "After starting treatment here in October, my rheumatologist recently told me he’d see me in a YEAR - and NO MORE MEDS. I’ve been fighting Lupus/Psoriatic Arthritis for 13 years, so this is huge for me.

    Brian and Cassie are fantastic (props to Stacy too!) They have also treated my 2 year old and now my husband has an appointment. THANK YOU IN MOTION!!

    If you are prenatal start now...I wish I had known how safe and helpful it is through pregnancy and beyond."
    Andrea

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

  • February Newsletter: Promoting Your Body's Natural Energy

    Want to feel more energetic? Chiropractic could help. ...

    Read More
  • February Newsletter: Stay Active This Winter

    Staying active during the winter offers important benefits for your health. ...

    Read More
  • January Newsletter: How Chiropractic Will Help You Reach Your Health Goals

    Planning to improve your health this year? Chiropractic can help. ...

    Read More
  • January Newsletter: Why You Should Visit Your Chiropractor This Winter

    Is a visit with the chiropractor on your winter calendar? ...

    Read More
  • December Newsletter: Custom Orthotics Could Be What You Need to Fight Foot Pain

    Are your feet killing you? Orthotics could end your pain. ...

    Read More
  • December Newsletter: Healthy Eating Tips for the Holiday Season

    Worried about gaining weight during the holidays? The healthy eating tips will help you avoid piling on the pounds. ...

    Read More
  • November Newsletter: It's always a good idea to visit your chiropractor after an auto accident

    Feeling sore after a car accident? Give your chiropractor a call. ...

    Read More
  • November Newsletter: Dealing with back pain? A herniated disc could be the cause

    Got stubborn back pain? You may have a herniated disc. ...

    Read More
  • Jaw Pain? You May Have TMJ

    Could your jaw pain mean that you have TMJ? ...

    Read More
  • Too Much Tech Could be Causing Your Neck Pain

    Wondering why your neck hurts? Your tech habits could be the reason. ...

    Read More

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Sign up for more articles

Follow Us

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map