The Science Behind Disc Pain: Why Inflammation Matters and How Chiropractic Supports Recovery
If you're experiencing radiating leg pain, numbness, or tingling from a herniated disc, grasping what's going on in your body can be empowering. New research reveals that inflammation plays a central role in disc herniation pain—and the good news is that your body has some key healing mechanisms that Minster chiropractic care at Minster Chiropractic Center can help.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND YOUR PAIN
When a disc herniates, it's not just mechanical pressure triggering your symptoms. Your immune system responds by sending specialized cells called macrophages to the affected area. These cells are part of your body's inflammatory response, and research shows they significantly influence your pain levels and recovery trajectory.
A 2025 study published in Brain & Spine examined how various kinds of macrophages affect clinical outcomes in lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. The researchers found that macrophage activity, along with changes visible on MRI scans called Modic changes, demonstrates a positive correlation with baseline symptom severity. This inflammation is your body's effort to heal, but it can create significant discomfort in the process. (1)
YOUR PATH TO RECOVERY
The hopeful news? Most people with disc herniation get better over time. Research published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research followed patients long-term and found that many factors contribute to successful outcomes, including early intervention and appropriate conservative care. (2)
HOW Minster CHIROPRACTIC CARE SUPPORTS YOUR HEALING
Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive approach that works with your body's natural healing processes. 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 movement
- 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 achieve significant symptom reduction from disc herniations through chiropractic intervention.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
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 .
