Understanding Disc Fragments with Aurora Chiropractic Center: From Surgical Solutions to Conservative Chiropractic Care
So you've been told you have a disc fragment, and now you're probably googling frantically at 2 AM wondering what this means for your future. Let's start with the main thing: this is treatable, you will get better, and there's a whole toolkit of options out there to help you heal—many of them gentle and non-invasive as appropriate. Aurora Chiropractic Center is prepared to help you navigate the path.
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN YOUR SPINE?
Think of your spinal discs as jelly donuts cushioning the bones in your back. A disc fragment occurs when that inner "jelly" breaks through the outer layer and essentially moves away from where it started. This is what's behind that shooting pain radiating down your leg, the numbness, or weakness that's been disrupting your daily life—but knowing the source of your pain means we can target treatment effectively and help you find real relief. We want you to know what’s going on!
YOU HAVE OPTIONS—AND SURGERY ISN'T YOUR ONLY ONE
You might be relieved to learn: you don't have to jump straight to surgery. While surgical options like transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy exist for severe cases and have helped many patients (1), there's a gentler path you might want to check out first.
COX® TECHNIC: A PROVEN NON-SURGICAL APPROACH
Flexion-distraction manipulation (aka Cox® Technic) offers real hope for people dealing with disc fragments. Medical literature substantiates this specialized chiropractic technique as an effective treatment for the radiating leg pain and back discomfort stemming from disc extrusions. (2)
What makes Cox® Technic different? Instead of the twisting you might associate with chiropractic treatment, this gentle approach utilizes a specialized table that lets the chiropractor like yours at Aurora Chiropractic Center to create a rhythmic pumping motion while maintaining contact with the spine at the appropriate specific level of pain. This motion works to:
- Lower pressure inside your disc
- Help reposition the herniated material
- Decompress those pinched nerves
- Increase the space between your vertebrae
It's non-invasive, drug-free, and has helped countless patients avoid surgery while getting back to the activities that make their lives happy.
The more you understand about your condition, the more confident you'll feel about your path to recovery. Researchers continue studying how disc herniations affect surrounding muscles and tissues (3), allowing us better insights into treatment approaches.
You deserve to explore all your options before making major decisions about surgery. Many patients find that starting with conservative chiropractic care—especially Cox® Technic—gives them the relief they need without going under the knife. Maybe see see what conservative care can do for you first?
Your pain doesn't have to be permanent. There's a path forward, and it starts by talking with a qualified chiropractor trained in Cox® Technic, like yours at Aurora Chiropractic Center.
CONTACT Aurora Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Joel Dixon from Australia on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the relief possible for a patient with disc extrusion with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
