Disc Herniation

Understanding Disc Herniations: Causes, Symptoms, and How We Can Help

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic in Wexford, PA, we see many patients suffering from disc herniations, a common and often debilitating spinal condition. If you're experiencing back pain, sciatica, or numbness and tingling in your arms or legs, you may have a herniated disc. Fortunately, chiropractic care with us offers highly effective, non-surgical solutions for pain relief and spinal healing including two of the most researched and results-driven treatments available today: Cox Flexion Distraction Technique and DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

What Is a Disc Herniation?

Your spine is made up of vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers and allow for flexibility. Each disc has a tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus) and a gel-like center (nucleus pulposus).

A disc herniation occurs when:

The outer layer of the disc weakens or tears.
The inner gel pushes out (herniates) through the tear.
This can press on spinal nerves, causing pain, inflammation, and neurological symptoms.

Common Causes of Disc Herniations

Disc herniations can result from age related wear and tear, as discs gradually lose water content over time and become more prone to damage; a process known as degenerative disc disease. Repetitive stress and poor posture, including prolonged sitting, improper lifting, and repetitive movements, place chronic stress on disc tissue and accelerate breakdown. Trauma and injuries such as auto accidents, falls, and sports injuries can cause sudden disc damage. Some individuals are also more prone to disc degeneration due to genetic predisposition, making early and proactive care especially important, as well as subsequent wellness care following the acute phase of care.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

A herniated disc can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on which part of the spine is affected. Lumbar herniations in the lower back typically produce sharp or dull low back pain, sciatica with pain radiating down the buttocks and legs, and numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs or feet. Cervical herniations in the neck commonly cause neck pain that radiates into the shoulders, pain, tingling, or weakness in the arms and hands, and limited range of motion in the neck. If left untreated, a herniated disc can progress to chronic pain, nerve damage, and reduced mobility, which is why early intervention is so important.

How We Treat Disc Herniations at Grieb Chiropractic Clinic

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Eric Grieb and Dr. Rowan Grieb take a comprehensive, individualized approach to disc herniation treatment. Depending on the severity of your condition, the location of the herniation, and your overall health history, we may recommend Cox Flexion Distraction or DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression in combination of chiropractic adjustments. These two treatments share a common goal, relieving pressure on the affected disc and surrounding nerves.

The DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression System is an FDA-cleared, computerized decompression device that delivers precise, controlled traction forces to the spine using a patented logarithmic pull pattern. By creating negative intradiscal pressure, it encourages herniated disc material to retract away from nerve tissue, increases the flow of oxygen, nutrients, and hydration into the disc to support regeneration, reduces mechanical nerve compression, and promotes long-term disc healing. The DRX9000 is available in both a lumbar configuration for lower back and sciatica cases and a cervical configuration for neck herniations with radiating arm and hand symptoms, allowing targeted treatment at the specific spinal level involved.

Cox Flexion Distraction Technique is a non-surgical, hands on spinal decompression/traction method performed on a specialized chiropractic table. Through gentle, rhythmic movement, it reduces intradiscal pressure, pulls herniated disc material away from spinal nerves, increases space between vertebrae to promote disc hydration and healing, restores spinal range of motion, and relieves the pain and neurological symptoms associated with nerve compression.

Scientific Research Supporting Our Approach

A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that Cox Flexion Distraction significantly reduced pain and disability in patients with lumbar disc herniations (Gudavalli et al., 2016). Research published in Spine Journal showed that patients with sciatica due to herniated discs experienced significant pain relief with Cox Technique (Gudavalli et al., 2014). A clinical trial in Chiropractic and Manual Therapies demonstrated that patients who received Cox Flexion Distraction therapy had improved nerve function and reduced compression on spinal nerves (Cambron et al., 2011). Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Neurological Research found that 86% of patients who completed a course of DRX9000 spinal decompression reported immediate resolution of symptoms, with 84% remaining pain-free at 90-day follow-up (Macario et al., 2008).

Why Choose Grieb Chiropractic Clinic for Disc Herniation Treatment?

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic, we specialize in non-surgical disc herniation treatment using the most effective, evidence-based tools available in modern chiropractic care. Our ability to offer both Cox Flexion Distraction and DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression under one roof means that your care plan can be tailored precisely to your condition, not limited by the tools available. We take the time to thoroughly evaluate every patient and build a treatment approach that prioritizes lasting results over temporary relief.

References

Gudavalli, M. R., Cambron, J. A., McGregor, M., & Gudavalli, K. (2016). Cox flexion distraction technique for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: A clinical outcomes study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 39(3), 155–162.
Gudavalli, M. R., Kruse, R. A., Cambron, J. A., & Patwardhan, A. G. (2014). Biomechanics of flexion-distraction therapy for lumbar spine conditions. Spine Journal, 14(8), 1825–1835.
Cambron, J. A., Gudavalli, M. R., & Hedeker, D. (2011). Flexion-distraction therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis: A randomized controlled trial. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 19(1), 11.
Macario, A., et al. (2008). A randomized trial comparing the DRX9000 to lumbar traction for the treatment of back pain associated with herniated nucleus pulposus. Journal of Neurological Research, 30(9), 986–992.

If you're suffering from low back pain, sciatica, or neck pain caused by a herniated disc, let us help! Our gentle, research-backed approach can provide lasting relief without drugs or surgery.