How to Get a Slipped Disc Back in Place

“Slipped disc” is one of the most commonly used — and most commonly misunderstood — terms in spinal health. If you’ve been told you have one, or if you’re dealing with radiating pain that might indicate one, this article will explain exactly what’s happening in your spine and what the most effective treatment options look like.

The short answer: discs don’t actually “slip.” And surgery is far less often the answer than most people assume. At Back 2 Health Chiropractic in Lubbock, TX, we help patients with disc injuries every week — and the majority achieve excellent outcomes with conservative chiropractic care and spinal decompression therapy.

What Is a “Slipped Disc”?

The intervertebral discs are soft, cushion-like structures that sit between each pair of vertebrae in the spine. Each disc has two parts:

• Annulus fibrosus — the tough, fibrous outer ring that provides structural integrity
• Nucleus pulposus — the soft, gel-like inner core that provides shock absorption and allows the disc to change shape as the spine moves

A “slipped disc” typically refers to one of several distinct conditions:

Disc Bulge (Protrusion)

The inner nucleus pushes against the annular fibers, causing the disc to bulge outward but remaining contained within the annulus. This is the mildest form of disc injury.

Disc Herniation (Extrusion)

The nucleus pulposus pushes through a tear in the annulus and protrudes into the spinal canal or neural foramen. This is what most people mean by “slipped disc.” The herniated material can compress nearby nerve roots, producing the characteristic radiating pain, numbness, and tingling of sciatica (in the lower back) or cervical radiculopathy (in the neck).

Disc Sequestration

A fragment of the nucleus breaks free and migrates into the spinal canal. This is the most severe form and is less common.

Important Clarification

The disc doesn’t literally slip — it tears and material migrates through the tear. This distinction matters because it changes the treatment approach. The goal isn’t to “put the disc back” but rather to reduce pressure on the disc, allow the herniated material to resorb or retract, and restore normal spinal mechanics.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

Disc herniation symptoms depend on the location of the herniation:

Lumbar disc herniation (lower back):

• Sharp, burning, or electric pain that radiates from the low back down the buttock, thigh, and into the calf or foot
• Numbness or tingling along the same pathway
• Muscle weakness in the leg or foot
• Pain that worsens with sitting, bending forward, or prolonged standing
• Pain that may be relieved by walking or lying down in certain positions

Cervical disc herniation (neck):

• Pain radiating from the neck down the arm, often into the hand
• Tingling or numbness in specific fingers (the pattern varies by disc level)
• Weakness in grip or arm muscles
• Pain that worsens with looking down or turning the head

In severe cases — particularly with large lumbar herniations — bladder or bowel dysfunction can occur. This is a medical emergency. Seek immediate care if you experience these symptoms.

What Actually Works for a Herniated Disc?

The First Principle: Avoid Unnecessary Surgery

The most important thing to understand about disc herniation is that the natural history is favorable for most patients. Research has consistently shown that the majority of lumbar disc herniations will significantly improve with conservative care within 6-12 weeks. The herniated nuclear material has an established biological capacity to dehydrate, shrink, and be resorbed by the body’s immune system over time.

A large body of evidence — including multiple randomized controlled trials — supports conservative management as the first-line approach for disc herniation without severe neurological compromise. Surgery is appropriate when neurological deficits are severe and progressive, when symptoms are truly refractory to conservative care after an adequate trial, or in the emergency scenario of cauda equina syndrome (severe nerve compression causing bladder/bowel dysfunction).

For the vast majority of patients in Lubbock, TX who come to us with disc herniation, surgery is never needed.

Chiropractic Care for Disc Herniation

Chiropractic adjustments address the mechanical component of disc herniation by:

1. Reducing compressive forces on the disc by restoring proper spinal alignment and motion
2. Releasing muscle spasm that is compressing the disc and heightening nerve irritation
3. Improving joint mobility in adjacent spinal segments, reducing compensatory loading on the injured disc
4. Influencing the disc’s hydraulic dynamics through specific adjusting techniques and positions that reduce disc pressure

We use careful, specific techniques for disc herniation patients — the approach is quite different from treating a routine back strain. Techniques such as flexion-distraction (a gentle, non-thrusting method) are particularly effective and comfortable for disc herniation patients.

Visit our chiropractic care page for more details on what to expect at your visit.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

For moderate to severe disc herniations, our spinal decompression therapy is one of the most powerful tools available. Spinal decompression is a form of motorized traction that creates negative pressure within the disc (intradiscal negative pressure), which:

• Creates a vacuum effect that draws the herniated nucleus material back toward the center of the disc
• Promotes the influx of water, oxygen, and nutrients into the disc, supporting natural healing
• Reduces pressure on compressed nerve roots, providing often-immediate relief of radiating pain

Spinal decompression sessions are performed on a specialized table, are comfortable (most patients find them relaxing), and are typically done in a series of visits over several weeks.

The combination of chiropractic care and spinal decompression produces excellent results for disc herniation — often within a treatment window that compares favorably to surgical recovery timelines, without the risks and recovery burden of surgery.

Supportive Measures

In addition to in-office treatment, we typically recommend:

Movement modification: Avoiding positions and activities that significantly increase disc pressure during the acute phase — particularly prolonged sitting, heavy lifting, and forward flexion under load.

Anti-inflammatory support: Ice during the acute phase (first 72 hours) reduces localized inflammation around the nerve. Adequate hydration supports disc health.

Targeted exercises: McKenzie-based extension exercises are often beneficial for lumbar disc herniation (they help centralize symptoms). Specific cervical exercises support recovery from cervical herniations. We’ll teach you what’s appropriate for your specific situation.

Lifestyle factors: Maintaining a healthy weight significantly reduces disc loading. Smoking impairs disc nutrition and should be discontinued if possible.

What About Traction Devices and Inversion Tables?

Home traction devices and inversion tables create sustained mechanical distraction of the spine, which can provide temporary relief but does not deliver the precise, computer-controlled decompression forces that clinical spinal decompression provides. They can be a useful adjunct for some patients but should not be used without professional guidance, as improper use can worsen symptoms.

When to Seek Care

If you are experiencing radiating leg or arm pain, numbness, or weakness — especially if these symptoms are recent — you should seek evaluation promptly. The longer a nerve is compressed, the greater the risk of lasting neurological changes. Early intervention consistently produces faster, more complete recovery.

At Back 2 Health Chiropractic in Lubbock, TX, we’ll take a thorough history, perform a comprehensive examination, and take X-rays where clinically appropriate to understand exactly what is happening in your spine before recommending any treatment.

Ready to find relief? Call Back 2 Health Chiropractic at (806) 425-5973 or request your appointment today.