Disc Problems
Disc Problems & Back Pain in Grand Junction, CO
A disc finding on imaging is not automatically the source of your pain. Symptoms, exam findings, and imaging have to agree.
Understanding
What Spinal Discs Do
Discs sit between the vertebrae and act as flexible spacers, allowing motion while distributing load. They change with age in nearly everyone, and many changes visible on imaging cause no symptoms at all.
A bulging disc describes a disc extending beyond its normal border. A herniation describes inner material pushing through the outer wall. Either may or may not irritate nearby nerve tissue.
Symptoms
Common Symptoms & Experiences
Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, or coughing; symptoms radiating into an arm or leg; numbness or tingling in a specific pattern; and difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position.
Patients with degenerative disc changes often report a gradual narrowing of what they feel able to do, rather than a single injury.
Contributors
Potential Contributing Factors
Age-related change, repetitive bending and lifting, prolonged sitting, previous injury, and the cumulative loading patterns of your work and recreation.
When to be seen
When Additional Medical Evaluation May Be Appropriate
Seek urgent medical care for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin area, or progressive weakness. These findings can indicate serious nerve compression.
Surgical consultation is appropriate for some disc problems, and Dr. Younker will refer when the findings warrant it.
Our approach
How Peak Performance Approaches Evaluation & Care
Evaluation starts with a consultation, exam, and health history. When your history and exam suggest imaging would help pinpoint the issue, x-rays will be recommended, and existing MRI or CT results are reviewed if you have them.
Care is chosen from the findings and adjusted over time. Dr. Younker has a particular interest in working with patients who have difficult situations or who have not had success with care elsewhere.
Next steps
What to Expect Next
You will leave the first visit understanding what was found and what the recommended path is, including whether that path is here or with another provider.
Meet your chiropractor
Meet Dr. Dean Younker
Dr. Dean Younker took over Peak Performance in 1997 and has cared for patients in Grand Junction ever since. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Northern Colorado and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland University in Kansas City. He is a member of the Colorado Chiropractic Association and the Grand Junction Chiropractor Association.
“Because no two patients are the same, here at Peak Performance, we take the time to listen to each patient. We then develop a personalized treatment plan. Our promise is to help you live your life better.”
FAQ
Common Questions
Does a disc “slip” out of place?
No. Discs do not slip out and get put back in. They can bulge, herniate, or degenerate, which is a different mechanism.
Can a herniated disc heal?
Many disc herniations become less symptomatic over time, though the course varies by person and by the specifics of the herniation.
Is chiropractic care appropriate with a disc problem?
Sometimes, and sometimes not. That determination comes from your exam, history, and imaging findings.
Will I need surgery?
Most people with disc findings do not have surgery, but that decision belongs with a surgeon after appropriate evaluation.
Next step
You Don't Have to Keep Planning Your Life Around Pain.
If pain is affecting the way you sleep, work, exercise, travel, or spend time with the people you love, it is worth finding out what is going on. Let's start with a conversation.
Engage With Your Life Again.