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, sensing what's happening in your body can be extremely beneficial. New research shows that inflammation plays a central role in disc herniation pain—and the good news is that your body has some helpful healing mechanisms that La Grande chiropractic care at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 specialized 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 analyzed how various types 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, directly correlates with the severity of symptoms patients experience at baseline. This inflammation is your body's attempt to heal, but it can trigger 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 La Grande CHIROPRACTIC CARE SUPPORTS YOUR HEALING
Chiropractic care provides a non-invasive treatment that supports your body's healing abilities. Through gentle spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and targeted exercises, chiropractors can help:
- Decrease mechanical stress on irritated nerve roots
- Boost spinal biomechanics to assist healing
- Lower localized inflammation through better movement
- Reinforce your body's natural recovery timeline
Every patient's journey is exceptional, but with proper care and understanding of the inflammatory process involved, many individuals find significant relief from their disc herniation symptoms through chiropractic treatment.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Brandon Skiles on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes relieving, gentle treatment of a disc herniation with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management .
