Spine, Back & Neck
Lumbar Disc Herniation
Disc change in the lower back, sometimes with leg symptoms.
Also called: Lumbar disc bulge, Herniated disc, low back.
A lumbar disc herniation may be silent, may cause local back pain, or may irritate a nearby nerve root and produce leg symptoms. Which of those is happening is an examination question, not an imaging question alone.
The level of the spine involved often correlates with a specific pattern of symptoms down the leg, which helps confirm what an image is showing.
Why this matters
Sitting tolerance, bending and getting out of bed are commonly affected, and leg symptoms often bother people more than the back itself.
Because leg symptoms can be more disruptive day to day, people sometimes underestimate how much the underlying back issue is driving what they feel in the leg.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Where the nerve root is involved, motor and sensory testing shows whether the pathway to the leg is being affected.
Tracking strength, reflexes and sensation over time helps determine whether nerve function is stable or changing, which guides how care and any referral decisions proceed.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
This is a concern where medical evaluation, imaging or co-management may be the right first step. Dr. Mike Geran will say so plainly if that is what the history and examination suggest.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Any of the red flags above call for immediate medical evaluation rather than continued conservative care.
- Progressive weakness in the leg or foot
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Numbness in the saddle region
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Low Back Pain & Sciatica — Low back pain is common, but the place that hurts is not always where the problem is being driven from.
- Back Pain — One of the most common reasons people look for a chiropractor — and rarely as simple as one sore muscle.
- Cervical Disc Herniation — Disc change in the neck, sometimes with arm symptoms.
- Cervical Spondylosis — Age-related change in the neck joints and discs, often seen on imaging.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.