Disc Injury Treatment in San Diego
Non-surgical recovery for disc bulges, herniations, and extrusions. FDA-cleared spinal decompression targets the root cause of your disc pain.
Understanding Spinal Disc Injuries
Your spinal discs are remarkable structures: tough, fibrous rings (annulus fibrosus) surrounding a gel-like center (nucleus pulposus) that act as shock absorbers between each vertebra. They allow your spine to bend, twist, and absorb impact while protecting your spinal cord and nerve roots from compression.
Disc injuries occur along a spectrum from mild bulging to complete fragmentation. The severity of your symptoms depends not just on the size of the disc injury, but on its location relative to nearby nerve structures. A small herniation directly contacting a nerve root can be more painful than a larger bulge that doesn't compress anything. This is why MRI findings alone cannot determine your treatment plan. Clinical correlation, meaning matching what we see on imaging with what we find on your neurological exam, is essential.
The good news: spinal discs have a proven capacity to heal. With the right combination of decompression, alignment correction, and tissue healing therapies, most disc injuries recover without surgery.
Signs You May Have a Disc Injury
These symptoms suggest disc involvement and warrant a comprehensive evaluation.
- Sharp or burning pain in the neck or back that worsens with movement
- Radiating pain into the arm (cervical disc) or leg (lumbar disc)
- Numbness or tingling in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes
- Muscle weakness in the arms or legs
- Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, or coughing
- Difficulty standing upright or walking for extended periods
- Sciatica-like shooting pain down one leg
- Morning stiffness that improves with gentle movement
Types of Disc Injuries
Disc injuries exist on a spectrum from mild to severe
Disc Bulge (Protrusion)
The most common and mildest disc injury. The outer wall of the disc (annulus fibrosus) weakens and the disc expands outward, but no material breaks through. Think of it like a tire bulging on one side. Disc bulges can compress nearby nerves and cause local pain, but they often respond well to conservative treatment.
Disc Herniation (Extrusion)
The inner gel-like nucleus pulposus pushes through a tear in the outer annulus fibrosus and extends beyond the disc space. This extruded material directly contacts and compresses nerve roots, causing radiating pain, numbness, and weakness in the arms or legs. Herniations are more symptomatic than bulges but can still heal without surgery.
Disc Sequestration
The most severe disc injury. A fragment of the nucleus pulposus breaks completely free from the disc and migrates into the spinal canal. This free fragment can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots, causing significant neurological symptoms. While some sequestrations require surgical intervention, many can be managed conservatively.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Not a single injury but a gradual process where discs lose hydration, height, and structural integrity over time. Dehydrated discs are more vulnerable to bulging and herniation. The narrowing of disc space reduces the foraminal openings where nerves exit, potentially causing chronic nerve compression and pain.
Your 5-Part Disc Recovery System
A proven protocol to heal your disc without surgery
Advanced Diagnostic Assessment
We correlate your MRI findings with a comprehensive neurological and orthopedic exam. Imaging alone cannot determine which disc is causing your symptoms, so we use provocative testing, dermatome mapping, and reflex assessment to identify the exact pain generator.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
FDA-cleared decompression therapy creates negative intradiscal pressure, which retracts herniated disc material, promotes nutrient flow into the damaged disc, and stimulates the natural healing process. Sessions are painless and typically last 25 to 30 minutes.
Chiropractic Alignment Correction
Spinal misalignments increase load on damaged discs and prevent optimal healing. Gentle, specific adjustments restore proper spinal mechanics, reduce asymmetric disc pressure, and improve nerve function throughout the affected region.
Tissue Healing Acceleration
Erchonia low-level laser therapy penetrates deep into disc and nerve tissue, reducing inflammation, stimulating cellular repair, and accelerating the healing timeline. This technology has FDA clearance for chronic pain conditions.
Core Stabilization and Prevention
As your disc heals, we progressively strengthen the deep spinal stabilizers that protect the disc from re-injury. You'll learn proper movement mechanics for lifting, bending, and sitting that distribute loads safely across your spine.
Why Choose Us for Disc Injury Treatment?
San Diego's trusted disc injury specialists with FDA-cleared technology and proven results.
Proven Disc Protocol
Thousands of discs treated successfully
FDA-Cleared Technology
Spinal decompression and laser therapy
No Surgery Required
Conservative care that works
San Diego Experts
Trusted disc injury specialists
Drug-Free Recovery
Heal without medication dependency
My MRI showed two herniated discs and my surgeon wanted to operate. I decided to try decompression first. After 10 weeks of treatment, my repeat MRI showed the herniations had retracted. No surgery needed. I'm so grateful I came here first.
Robert M.
Disc Injury Patient, San Diego
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about disc bulges, herniations, and non-surgical treatment options.
Treatments That May Help
Start Your Disc Recovery Today
Most disc injuries heal without surgery when treated with the right approach. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn how our proven disc protocol can help you.
Call (619) 344-0111 to speak with a specialist