Herniated Disc Treatment
in Jacksonville, FL
Herniated and bulging discs can turn simple movement into effort, making everyday tasks and exercises more difficult than they should.
At Active Health, your first step is a focused functional evaluation that maps how you move, where load concentrates, and which habits keep irritation active. This gives us a precise picture of what drives your symptoms and how to change them safely.
From those findings, your plan progresses in clear stages. When appropriate, we pair spinal decompression with targeted physical therapy and integrate regenerative options selected to calm sensitive tissue and support durable recovery you can feel at work, at home, and in sport.
What is a Herniated Disc?
Between each vertebra sits a flexible cushion called an intervertebral disc. Herniations occur when the soft center pushes through the tougher outer layer of the disc. A bulge can widen and press on nearby nerves. Both can create pain in the lower back, neck discomfort, or radiating symptoms when nerves are irritated.
These changes often appear with age‒related wear, sometimes called vertebral disc disease, and can also follow a sudden lift, awkward twist, or repetitive strain. Our team reviews your history, imaging, and movement patterns to understand what is driving your symptoms and how to address them safely.
Common Causes of Herniated Discs
We often see the following as the most common causes of herniated and bulging discs. Identifying these patterns helps us correct mechanics, reduce irritation, and address frequent lower back pain causes.
Age-Related Changes
Discs gradually lose hydration and resilience, making them more vulnerable to small tears and bulges over time.
Improper Lifting or Sudden Load
Heavy objects, awkward positions, or quick directional changes can overload the spine and trigger a flare.
Repetitive Strain and Deconditioning
Limited trunk control, long periods of sitting, and repetitive motions increase stress on the lower back.
Posture and Movement Habits
Prolonged flexed positions, poor ergonomics, and inefficient mechanics shift load to sensitive tissues.
Prior Injury
Old sprains, falls, or unresolved back issues can alter how forces travel through the spine during daily activity and training.
What Symptoms Do Herniated Discs Cause?
Disc changes can irritate nearby nerves, so symptoms often follow a clear pattern: pain with certain positions, reduced motion, and sometimes radiating sensations.
If these signs continue, an evaluation at Active Health can identify the cause and determine a safe herniated disc treatment plan.
- Lower back pain that worsens with bending or prolonged sitting.
- Neck pain or stiffness that limits turning.
- Radiating pain into a shoulder, arm, hip, or down one leg (sciatica-type symptoms).
- Numbness, tingling, or burning in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.
- Muscle weakness that affects grip, balance, or walking.
- Pain that increases with coughing, sneezing, or straining.
- Positional flares linked to specific activities or postures.
What Herniated Disc Treatments are Available?
Non-surgical care at Active Health focuses on three priorities: relieve pressure on irritated nerves, restore controlled motion, and build capacity that holds up in real life.
Your plan is individualized, progresses in clear stages, and is updated based on measurable changes in pain, strength, and function.
Gentle, computer-guided unloading on the DRX9000 creates space between vertebrae to ease nerve irritation and support disc hydration. Many patients notice smoother movement and less arm or leg pain as pressure decreases.
Physical therapy, manual techniques, and motor-control training improve stability and range of motion. We rebuild tolerance step by step so that daily tasks and training feel easier and more consistent.
Focused acoustic waves are used in select cases to support local circulation, reduce persistent soft-tissue tension, and enhance the effectiveness of follow-up rehab.
When appropriate, platelet-rich plasma can help restart a stalled healing response in related tendon or joint issues. To alleviate irritation and promote joint comfort, options like joint and health injections and A2M injections are also employed.
Instrument-assisted methods, including the Graston Technique, address adhesions that limit mobility and contribute to guarding.
Corrective exercises strengthen weak links, improve neuromuscular control, and reinforce patterns that protect discs during work and sport.
Brief sessions deliver high-velocity sound waves to promote a noticeable sense of ease in the treated region and complement rehab when sensitivity is high.
Real-time feedback reveals efficiency losses and habits that overload the spine. We teach practical adjustments that reduce risk and make movement feel more natural.
FAQs
What is a herniated disc?
A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner core of a spinal disc pushes through its tougher outer layer and irritates nearby nerves. This can lead to neck or back pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected area.
How to heal a herniated disc quickly?
There’s no instant cure for a herniated disc, but early and targeted care speeds recovery. A combination of proper diagnosis, activity modification, spinal decompression, and progressive physical therapy helps restore movement and stability.
Will a herniated lumbar disc heal?
Yes, many herniated lumbar discs improve with consistent, non-surgical treatment. As inflammation decreases and strength builds, pain and nerve symptoms often resolve. Recovery time varies depending on severity and adherence to your care plan.
What causes a herniated disc?
A herniated disc is often caused by age-related wear, improper lifting, repetitive strain, poor posture, or past injuries. Correcting these factors helps prevent future flare-ups and supports long-term spinal health.
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Thur: 10am - 5pm
Fri: 7am - 3pm
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