Do Chiropractors Just Help Back Pain in Clarksville TN
Do chiropractors just help back pain? No. Chiropractors work with musculoskeletal problems, including the spine and other joints. Chiropractic still isn't the right treatment for every symptom, and our guide to what a chiropractor can help with says when another kind of care belongs in the plan. Our body guides also cover the neck, shoulder, hip and pelvis and knee.
If back pain brought you here, Source Chiropractic in Clarksville explains the words on a disc report below, and why a scan isn't the whole story.
Is back pain always a disc problem?
Not necessarily. Muscles, joints, discs and other structures may all contribute to back pain, and some medical conditions cause it too. Pain that's lasted more than a few days doesn't automatically mean a disc injury. Your history and the exam are how we work out what needs a closer look, and when your symptoms or exam suggest it isn't a muscle-and-joint problem, we'll refer you for a medical evaluation.
What do bulge, herniation, protrusion and extrusion mean on a disc report?
Spinal discs sit between most vertebrae and help the spine absorb load and move. A bulge means the disc extends past its usual boundary over a broad area. A herniation is a more localized displacement. Protrusion and extrusion describe the shape of a herniation, not a scale of pain or disability. These definitions come from a consensus of spine and radiology societies, which keeps what the disc looks like separate from symptoms and treatment decisions.
So a report makes sense only next to your symptoms and your exam. An extrusion doesn't necessarily immobilize the spine, and an adjustment shouldn't be assumed to put displaced disc material back into position. Our disc injury guide and herniated disc guide go further.
When is back pain an emergency?
Back or leg symptoms with any of these need immediate emergency assessment: new difficulty passing urine or not being able to empty your bladder, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the genitals, anus or inner thighs, or new changes in sexual function. Severe or worsening weakness in both legs is a warning sign too. These may point to cauda equina syndrome, compression of the nerves at the bottom of the spinal canal. Go to an emergency department now, and call 911 if you can't get there safely. Please don't wait for an appointment with us.
How is back pain with a disc finding checked and treated?
A disc finding matters most when it matches where your symptoms are and how they behave. Checking strength, sensation and reflexes is the usual way to see how the nerves are doing, and another test is only worth having if it could change the treatment. Our own exam looks at how your joints move, where muscles are tight or swollen, and for signs of an irritated nerve. You'll hear what we found before we recommend anything, and the plan is built around your condition and goals.
The NIH's guidance on back pain treatment says it may include activity advice, exercise or physical therapy, and medicines where they fit; surgery is considered for particular causes and circumstances, and long bed rest is generally discouraged. Manual treatment has its own risks and alternatives, and our guide to deciding on chiropractic care lays them out.
If you have a scan report, bring it. You don't need a new one to book a visit. For a back that won't settle, or a disc report you'd like to talk through, give us a call for a nonemergency appointment. Our new patient page covers the first visit.
Follow the evidence
Research, with context.
Selected published sources behind what we've written, each with what it found and what it can't tell us. We give you both halves because no paper can diagnose you or predict how your own care will go.
Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations
33 studies reporting imaging findings in 3,110 people without symptoms.
What it foundDegenerative findings were common in people without pain and became more frequent with age. A scan needs interpretation alongside symptoms and examination findings.
What it can't tell usThat doesn't make every disc finding harmless, or imaging never necessary. And a review like this can't identify what's causing one person's pain.
Publication details & citation
Brinjikji et al. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 2015. DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173.
Read the publication recordNoninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians
Adults with acute, subacute or chronic low-back pain considering noninvasive management.
What it foundThe guideline prioritizes non-drug options for chronic low-back pain, including exercise. Spinal manipulation is one of several options, supported by lower-quality evidence.
What it can't tell usA guideline pulls together existing evidence; it doesn't report a new experiment. It doesn't establish disc realignment, a cure for everyone, or superiority over all other care.
Publication details & citation
Qaseem et al. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017. DOI: 10.7326/M16-2367.
Read the publication recordSurgery versus prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica
283 patients with severe sciatica lasting 6 to 12 weeks, assigned early surgery or prolonged conservative care with surgery if needed.
What it foundEarly surgery provided faster relief and recovery, while one-year outcomes were similar.
What it can't tell usAbout 39% of those first assigned conservative care went on to have surgery. It wasn't a chiropractic trial, and it doesn't show that any treatment shrinks discs or guarantees avoiding surgery.
Publication details & citation
Peul et al. Surgery versus prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa064039.
Read the publication record
Our editorial policy explains how to read these sources and what our clinical-review labels mean.