A disc herniation, also known as a slipped disc, causes pain that usually occurs in the lower back but can be felt anywhere, including the neck.
At Iowa Wellness Center, we encourage you to seek medical care right away, instead of assuming the pain will go away on its own. Our team of doctors, chiropractors, and nurse practitioners can develop a personalized treatment plan to address your disc injury.
For your disc herniation treatment in North Liberty, we use regenerative medicine and chiropractic techniques for optimal healing.
What causes a disc herniation?
First, let’s talk about discs. These structures support your vertebrae (interlocking bones that protect the spinal cord) and provide shock absorption and stability while facilitating movement. Discs are made of 2 parts:
- Nucleus pulposus – The jelly-like substance inside the disc that gives it a spongy cushion, giving it the ability to support shock absorption.
- Annulus fibrosus – The fibrous and hard outer shell that holds the nucleus pulposus within the disc core.
A herniated disc results from the annulus fibrosis weakening, allowing the jelly-like substance to ooze out and come into contact with spinal nerves, causing pain or altered nerve function. This can happen because of age-related wear and tear, poor posture when lifting heavy objects, injuries, or even muscle weakening from lack of physical activity.
The Process at Iowa Wellness Center
Here’s what to expect from our team for your disc herniation treatment in North Liberty.
Consultation
During your free consultation, we start by getting to know you and understanding the severity of your pain. We ask about the onset of your symptoms and what measures you have taken for pain management.
Next, we examine your spine to identify any problem areas. Once we determine that a herniated disc is the source of your pain, we develop a personalized treatment plan for you.
Your treatment plan may consist of ozone therapy, chiropractic care, or a combination of both. Here is what to expect from these options.
Ozone Therapy Treatment
Ozone therapy uses ozone gas to boost oxygen levels in your body, which improves wound healing, eases pain, and reduces inflammation.
For your disc herniation, ozone therapy shrinks the disc, lessening the pressure on your nerves, reduces inflammation, and improves oxygen flow to the target area. This treatment requires 5 to 10 sessions, depending on your symptoms. Along with reduced pain, you can also experience improvements in your immune system, energy, and recovery from physical activity.
For ozone therapy, we have 3 administration options:
- Ozone gas injection – We inject a small volume (5 to 15 ml) of oxygen and ozone into the treatment area. This boosts oxygen flow throughout your entire body to stimulate cellular regeneration and promote faster healing and enhanced overall vitality.
- Prolozone injection – We mix ozone gas with methyl B12, pyridoxine (B6), and procaine to create an injectable solution. The added vitamins boost red blood cell production, nervous system function, and immune system health, enhancing the benefits of your ozone therapy.
- PRP + ozone Injection – PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma, a concentrate made from your own blood to speed up healing and relieve pain from your disc herniation. We mix these two treatments together to improve blood flow, and reduce inflammation, creating a more conducive environment for repair.
During these 90-minute sessions, we invite you to relax or bring a form of entertainment, like your phone or a book.
Chiropractic Care
Our spine specialists will align your vertebrae, relieving spinal pressure and pain related to a herniated disc. This will require ongoing maintenance services, as your spine may compress again with further activity. Initially, you can expect 5 sessions to help you experience reduced pain and improved mobility.
For your convenience, we can perform your spinal alignment and ozone therapy on the same day. Not only does this streamline the scheduling and process for you, but it also accelerates healing even further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about disc herniation treatment in North Liberty and our wellness center.
Does disc herniation treatment hurt?
We do our best to keep you comfortable throughout the treatment. Ozone therapy may cause mild discomfort if you have an aversion to needles, but patients generally tolerate it well.
Our chiropractors focus on providing gentle alignments that relieve pain—not cause it. However, if you experience pain or have concerns about it, our chiropractors can try a range of different techniques to improve your comfort.
Are you a wellness center or a chiropractic office?
Both! We share a roof with Family & Sport Chiropractic to bring you a blend of chiropractic and regenerative medicine options. This gives you access to some of the most advanced treatments to help restore your tissues and realign your body for a better, more mobile life.
What other conditions can you treat?
We offer relief for a variety of conditions at Iowa Wellness Center, including:
- Hormone replacement therapy for a hormonal imbalance
- Neuropathy treatments for nervous system dysfunction
- Medical weight loss for obesity
- Emsella for incontinence
How do I prepare for a disc herniation treatment in North Liberty?
After your consultation, we give you an outline or blueprint of your care plan, along with pre- and post-care instructions for you to follow throughout your treatment. We recommend refraining from heavy lifting, exercise, or other tasks that can strain your spine. These instructions are specific to your lifestyle and pain severity, so they vary from patient-to-patient.
What are the post-care instructions for a disc herniation treatment?
After each chiropractic session, we recommend following these instructions to get the most relief from your disc herniation treatment.
- Avoid strenuous activity for a few days.
- Ice the area if you feel any soreness in your back after each session.
- Stay hydrated to boost your body’s recovery process.
Find Relief With Our Team
Get expert help right away if you are experiencing pain in your spine, neck, or anywhere else in your body. For your disc herniation treatment in North Liberty, our expert team can help you find relief. To get started, you can try our treatment planning tool or book an appointment.
