Herniated Disc — Non-Surgical Options in Mineola

Sep 21

The short answer. Most herniated (“slipped” or “bulging”) discs get better without surgery. Leading guidelines recommend non-invasive, movement-based care first, and a 2024 clinical trial found acupuncture significantly reduced leg pain from a herniated disc.¹˒²˒³ Here's what actually helps.

What a herniated disc is

Between each pair of spine bones sits a cushioning disc. When the soft center pushes through the tougher outer ring, it can press on or irritate a nearby nerve — causing back pain and, often, pain, numbness, or tingling down an arm or leg. The reassuring part: imaging shows many people have disc bulges with no pain at all, and most symptomatic discs settle with conservative care.²

(Red flags needing urgent care: progressive leg/arm weakness, numbness in the groin, or loss of bladder/bowel control.)

How chiropractic helps

The goal is to take pressure off the irritated nerve and restore healthy motion — using gentle adjustment, positioning, mechanical traction (decompression), and therapeutic exercises to build support. Both the American College of Physicians and NICE recommend non-invasive care before considering injections or surgery for most disc-related pain.¹˒²

How acupuncture helps

Acupuncture calms the over-firing nerve and relaxes the protective muscle spasm around it. In a 2024 randomized trial in JAMA Internal Medicine, real acupuncture reduced leg pain from disc-related sciatica far more than sham treatment, with benefits lasting up to a year.³ We often use electro-acupuncture for disc-related nerve pain.

Why doing both can work better

A disc problem is mechanical (the disc/nerve) and neurological (pain and spasm). Our Combined Care visit treats both at once — decompression and nerve-calming acupuncture in one coordinated session.

Get help in Mineola

The Point Chiropractic and Acupuncture P.C. serves Mineola, Williston Park, Garden City, New Hyde Park, Albertson, Roslyn, Westbury, and western Nassau County. We're in-network with Northwell Direct for chiropractic and are adding more insurers. Book online — HSA/FSA accepted, superbills on request.

This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Talk to a qualified clinician about what's right for your situation.

Sources

Qaseem A, et al; American College of Physicians. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017;166(7):514–530.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Over 16s (NG59). 2016 (updated 2020).
Tu J-F, et al. Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture for Chronic Sciatica From Herniated Disk: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2024.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. nccih.nih.gov.

FAQ

Do I need surgery for a herniated disc? Usually not. Most herniated discs improve with non-surgical, movement-based care; surgery is reserved for severe or non-responding cases and specific red flags.

Can a chiropractor treat a herniated disc? Yes — with gentle adjustment, decompression/traction, and exercise to relieve nerve pressure and restore motion, in line with major guidelines.

Does acupuncture help disc pain? A 2024 JAMA Internal Medicine trial found acupuncture significantly reduced leg pain from disc-related sciatica, with benefits lasting up to a year.

Is a bulging disc always painful? No — imaging shows many people have disc bulges with no pain. We treat your symptoms, not just the scan.

Do you take insurance? In-network with Northwell Direct for chiropractic (adding more); acupuncture is cash-based. HSA/FSA accepted.

Yang Wei