The Science Behind Disc Pain: Why Inflammation Matters and How Chiropractic Supports Recovery
If you're having leg pain that goes all the way down your extremity with numbness or tingling from a herniated disc, sensing what's happening in your body can be extremely beneficial. New research reveals that inflammation plays a pivotal role in disc herniation pain—and the good news is that your body has some helpful healing mechanisms that Fort Wayne chiropractic care at Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc can support.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND YOUR PAIN
When a disc herniates, it's not just mechanical pressure causing your symptoms. Your immune system kicks into gear by sending unique cells called macrophages to the affected area. These cells are part of your body's inflammatory response, and research proves they make a real difference in how much pain you feel and how fast you heal.
A 2025 study published in Brain & Spine examined how various types of macrophages affect clinical outcomes in lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. The researchers discovered that macrophage activity, along with MRI-visible alterations known as Modic changes, directly correlates with the severity of symptoms patients experience at baseline. This inflammation is your body's way of trying to heal, but it can cause significant discomfort in the process. (1)
YOUR PATH TO RECOVERY
The encouraging news? Most people with disc herniation get better over time. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research published a follow-up study showing that successful outcomes result from various factors, especially timely intervention and appropriate non-surgical treatment. (2)
HOW Fort Wayne CHIROPRACTIC CARE SUPPORTS YOUR HEALING
Chiropractic care is a gentle, non-invasive option that helps your body heal. Through gentle spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and targeted exercises, chiropractors can help:
- Decrease mechanical stress on irritated nerve roots
- Improve spinal biomechanics to assist healing
- Lower localized inflammation through better motion
- Reinforce your body's natural recovery timeline
Every patient's journey is personal, but with proper care and knowledge of the inflammatory process involved, many individuals experience significant relief from disc herniation symptoms through chiropractic treatment.
CONTACT Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Brandon Skiles on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates relieving, gentle treatment of a disc herniation with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management .
