Herniated Discs and Chiropractic Treatment after an Injury Accident

Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend, who has been an orthopedic surgeon for over 20 years. During our conversation, he reminded me of the fact that it's generally a good idea to stay away from chiropractic treatment or any kind of other "passive" back and spine manipulation if a person is diagnosed with disk herniation. This of course makes a lot of sense. If disks are already herniated / displaced, applying more mechanical pressure on them is not likely to further displace them and cause greater pain, but it can cause a substantially greater pain, turning otherwise asymptomatic (pain-free) person to the one suffering greatly from back pain. 

So, if you have been diagnosed with disc herniation, consult with your orthopedic surgeon and/or a neurologist before you consider obtaining chiropractic treatment or even physical therapy. 

For further information on disc and spinal injuries, check out my san francisco accident injury blog.