Slipped disc: Should I see a chiropractor?

I went a bit too hard on the heavy lifting at the gym and ended up slipping a disc.
Has anyone else dealt with something similar?
Supposedly, the only way to get things back in alignment is to see a chiropractor, but I’m honestly terrified they might make the situation worse—I've heard some pretty horror-story type tales about chiropractic adjustments.

It might be a disc issue, though I doubt a vertebra actually slipped out of place.

It isn't just a disc issue; there’s an actual displacement 😢
I had an MRI and went through physical therapy, but nothing seemed to make a dent.

If you actually had a slipped vertebra, you'd be looking at a lifetime of disability. It would be permanent because you'd have ripped your spinal cord.
What you’ve got is a herniated disc. Personally, I wouldn't touch a chiropractor with a ten-foot pole—those people aren't even real medical professionals.

So why did my doctor tell me it was my spine? You can actually see on the scan how close that vertebra moved toward the other one 😕
Fine, I'll continue to steer clear of the chiropractor then. Thanks for the insight 🙏

Can you walk us through what exactly is written in the report...

Here is what the report says:

The MRI slices through the lumbar spine show a reduced lumbar lordosis.
The spinal canal width remains maintained.
All vertebral bodies have normal height and physiological bone signal intensity, though there are discrete changes in signal intensity within the anterior aspects of the endplates at the L4/L5 segments due to degenerative changes.
There is minimal retroposition of the L4 vertebral body relative to the L5 body, measuring approximately 3 mm.
As a result, the neural foramina width is slightly reduced bilaterally at the L4/L5 level.
The intervertebral spaces at L4/L5 and L5/S1 are narrowed, and the discs at the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1 levels show signal intensity changes consistent with degeneration.
A very small left-sided paramedial subligamentous herniation is visible at the L4/L5 segment; the herniated disc portion measures about 5x3 mm and compromises the left L5 neural root intraspinally.
At all other levels, the findings are normal, showing no compression of neural structures.
The distal spinal cord and the conus medullaris are normally shaped and sized, with physiological signal intensity.

placidjackal36 said:If you actually had a displaced vertebra, you’d be facing permanent disability. It would be irreversible because your spinal cord would be severed.
What you’re dealing with is a herniated disc. Personally, I wouldn't recommend chiropractors; they aren't even part of the medical field.

It really all comes down to their training. If they were properly educated right here in the United States—you know, at a legitimate, accredited institution—they often have a much deeper understanding than our local physiotherapists.
@casualcanyon40/">@@casualcanyon40: Honestly, since there are so few highly qualified ones in the US, you really need to do your homework and vet whoever you decide to see.

casualcanyon40 said:Here is what the report says:

Looking at the MRI cross-sections through the lumbar spine area, there's a noticeable reduction in the natural inward curve of the lower back.
The spinal canal width was successfully maintained!
The vertebral bodies all look great—height is perfectly preserved and the bone signal intensity is right where it should be. However, I did notice some subtle changes in the signal intensity along the anterior aspects of the endplates at the L4/L5 level. It looks like some minor degenerative changes are starting to pop up there.
It looks like there’s a slight misalignment happening—specifically, a minor retroposition of the L4 vertebra relative to the L5. We're talking about a displacement of roughly 3 mm. Think of it like a single brick in a wall being set just a tiny bit deeper than the one below it; it's a subtle shift, but it's definitely there!
Basically, what this means is that there’s a slight narrowing of the neural foramina—those little exit tunnels for your nerves—on both sides right around the L4/L5 level of your spine. Think of it like a doorway being slightly squeezed shut; it’s not totally blocked, but the space isn't quite as wide as it should be.
So, I took a look at the results, and here’s the breakdown in plain English. It looks like there is some narrowing in the spaces between the L4/L5 and L5/S1 vertebrae. On top of that, the discs at the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1 levels are showing some signal intensity changes—which is basically just a fancy way of saying they're showing signs of wear and tear. Think of it like an old car tire losing its tread; it’s just standard degenerative stuff happening in those segments!
I’ve been looking over my latest imaging results, and it turns out there is a very slight left-sided, paramedial, subligamentous herniation sitting right at the L4/L5 segment. It's a tiny detail, but definitely something to keep an eye on! We’re looking at a disc herniation measuring roughly 5x3 mm. To put that into perspective, think of it like a small pebble lodged in the tread of a tire—it's compact, but it’s definitely enough to change how everything else rolls! It looks like we’re dealing with some serious nerve compression at the L5 level on the left side, specifically right within the spinal canal. It’s a bit like having a pinched cable inside a high-tech junction box—everything downstream starts getting glitchy because the signal just can't get through clearly!
The rest of the findings look perfectly clean! To put it simply, there isn't a single sign of compression on any of the neural structures. Everything is sitting right where it should be.
The lower portion of the spinal cord and the conus medullaris both look perfectly normal! They’ve got the right shape, the right size, and the signal intensity is exactly where it should be. Everything is looking great there!

At the end of the day, we're really talking about the disc itself! 😁
Here is what I’d suggest! If you’re looking for top-tier medical services or specialized clinical care, I highly recommend checking out the resources available through the website for one of America's premier healthcare providers. It's a great starting point if you need to navigate complex health options or find a reputable specialist in your area! Or just go with the spirit of it!

Benjamin Barrett11 said:It really comes down to whether they were actually trained properly or not. If they went through a legitimate program here in the United States, they’re going to have a much better grasp of things than our local physical therapists.
@casualcanyon40: Since there are so few people like that in the US, you'd better do some serious digging before picking someone.

The early days of chiropractic were built on vitalism, spiritual vibes, and pure rationalism. Using a philosophy derived from unshakeable dogma helped separate chiropractic from traditional medicine, giving practitioners a way to defend themselves legally against charges of practicing medicine without a license. It let them carve out their own niche. This "straight" approach, passed down through generations, tends to ditch the scientific method's logic in favor of vitalistic principles rather than material science. That said, most modern practitioners realize how important scientific research is. Most today are "mixers"—they try to bridge the gap between hard science and the old-school metaphysical or holistic wellness models. There was even a commentary back in 2008 suggesting that chiropractic should officially break away from that "straight" philosophy to get rid of untestable dogmas and actually lean into critical thinking and evidence-based practice.

No thanks. 🤷

Benjamin Barrett11 said:we're talking about a disc here, after all. 😁
My suggestion would be to check out http://www.mayoclinic.org or, honestly, just get a second opinion from a specialist.

Yeah, but you seem to have missed this part:

casualcanyon40 said:here is what the report actually states:

MRI cross-sections through the lumbar spine area show reduced lumbar lordosis.
The spinal canal width remains maintained.
All vertebral bodies appear to have normal height and physiological bone signal intensity, except for discrete changes in signal intensity in the anterior aspect of the endplates at the L4/L5 segments, consistent with degenerative changes.
There is visible minimalretroposition of the L4 vertebral body relative to the L5 vertebral body, measuring approximately 3 mm.
Consequently, there is a slight reduction in the width of the neural foramina bilaterally at the L4/L5 level.
The intervertebral spaces at L4/L5 and L5/S1 are narrowed, and the discs at the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1 levels show signal intensity changes indicative of degenerative changes.
A very small left-sided paramedial subligamentous herniation is visible at the L4/L5 level; the herniated portion of the disc measures roughly 5x3 mm, compromising the left L5 neural root intraspinally.
At all other levels, the findings are normal, showing no compression of neural structures.
The distal part of the spinal cord and the conus medullaris are normally shaped and sized, with physiological signal intensity.

So, the vertebra is shifted, but we can't exactly say it "popped out." casualcanyon40, if I were you, I'd go talk to a neurosurgeon. They'll give you the best guidance on this. 🙂

casualcanyon40 said:I went a little too hard with the weights at the gym—ended up slipping a disc.
Anyone dealt with something similar?
Apparently, a chiropractor is the only way to get things back in alignment, but I’m honestly terrified they might actually make it worse—I've heard some pretty scary stories about them.

I’d probably suggest seeing a chiropractor, though maybe with a bit of caution. I had a specialist help me out with a spinal issue (not quite this specific, but likely from the gym as well 🙄), and I know plenty of people who swear by his work. He actually studied in the States—Michael Šantek, Silver Coin 18.
You can always just go for an initial consultation—he'll review your medical records and won't sell you any false hope; he'll just tell you straight if he can actually help.

placidjackal36 said:Chiropractic's early philosophy was rooted in vitalism, spiritual inspiration and rationalism. A philosophy based on deduction from irrefutable doctrine (dogma) helped distinguish chiropractic from medicine, provided it with legal and political defenses against claims of practicing medicine without a license, and allowed chiropractors to establish themselves as an autonomous profession. This "straight" philosophy, taught to generations of chiropractors, rejects the inferential reasoning of the scientific method, and relies on deductions from vitalistic first principles rather than on the materialism of science. However, most practitioners currently accept the importance of scientific research into chiropractic, and most practitioners are "mixers" who attempt to combine the materialistic reductionism of science with the metaphysics of their predecessors and with the holistic paradigm of wellness; a 2008 commentary proposed that chiropractic actively divorce itself from the straight philosophy as part of a campaign to eliminate untestable dogma and engage in critical thinking and evidence-based research.

No, thank you. 🤷

But tell me, where on earth did you dig up that quote?
And let me reiterate: chiropractors in the United States actually undergo more years of schooling than physical therapists do back home... and this is the first time I've ever heard anyone suggest that trained chiropractors spend their time performing some kind of pseudo-science magic trick. In reality, what we call chiropractic in the United States is quite similar to manual therapy in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Though, if we're looking at Europe, osteopathy is actually the most widespread. When you look closely, the core differences between these three branches of physical therapy are incredibly minimal 🙂—chiropractors focus more heavily on manipulations, manual therapists lean toward mobilizations with occasional manipulations, and osteopaths have drifted most toward the "alternative" side, essentially working like manual therapists but adding an alternative twist.
As for those "chiropractors" you see leaning over a counter trying to "crack vertebrae"? They don't even belong in this conversation.

fadedmarlin402 said:True, but you might have missed this point here:

So, the vertebra is definitely out of alignment, even if we can't technically say it has "slipped" out of place. casualcanyon40, if I were you, I’d grab a quick consultation with a neurosurgeon. Honestly, they'll give you the most reliable perspective on this. 🙂

My bad🙂
I'm not totally sold on seeing a neurosurgeon unless they're the type who prefers conservative treatment over jumping straight to surgery—which, let's be real, is pretty rare these days.😁 I'd much rather sit down with a top-tier physiatrist or an incredibly skilled physical therapist.

fadedmarlin402 said:True, but you missed this part:

So, the vertebrae are displaced, but we can't exactly say they "slipped out." casualcanyon40, my advice is to go talk to a neurosurgeon. They’ll give you the most reliable guidance. 🙂

Thanks everyone for the input. 😘

My doctor suggested seeing a neurosurgeon too, but I'm worried they'll just push for surgery. 😢
For now, I'm not doing anything since the pain is still manageable. If I eventually decide to see a chiropractor, I'll either go to Michael at the silver coin location or to the Sheraton to see those Americans; I've heard they're quite skilled.

Thanks again, everyone. 🙂

casualcanyon40 said:I really want to thank everyone for all the helpful replies! 😘

My doctor actually suggested I see a neurosurgeon, but honestly? The idea of them recommending surgery scares the life out of me. 😢
For now, I’m not planning on making any big moves while the pain is still somewhat manageable. If I do decide to try a chiropractor, I’ll probably look into seeing Michael over in Silver City, or maybe head over to the Marriott to see those Americans—I've heard they're quite the experts in the field.

Thanks again, everybody! 🙂

If you're thinking about fixing this, just do it now. Don't wait until things get worse—and trust me, they will.

casualcanyon40 said:I really appreciate everyone chiming in with their thoughts. 😘

My doctor actually suggested I see a neurosurgeon, but honestly, the idea of being pushed toward surgery scares me off. 😢
For now, I’m not planning on doing anything drastic while the pain is still somewhat manageable. If I decide to try a chiropractor, I'll either look into seeing Michael over in Silver City or head to the Marriott to find those Americans; I've heard they're pretty highly regarded in the field.

Thanks again, everyone. 🙂

A neurosurgeon might suggest surgery, sure, but they can't force you to go under the knife. It's better to at least know what your options are...

A skilled neurosurgeon will never suggest surgery unless it is absolutely necessary, and you should always seek a second opinion before making any major decisions.
You might want to look into acupuncture; it could offer some genuine relief.
However, I would strongly advise staying far away from chiropractors—most people simply don't grasp the potential risks involved! 👎

That L4 retroposition has probably been there for quite a while, so honestly, I wouldn't let it stress you out too much. You can always try tackling a herniated disc with physical therapy first, and if that doesn't cut it, then surgery is an option. But since we don't really know how much pain you're actually in, it's tough to give any real advice without knowing your side of things...

Casey Palmer5, regarding the discomfort, I get sharp lower back pain whenever I lift anything even slightly heavy. I try to be careful, but I slip up occasionally—like the other day—and end up with intense pain.
The pain usually subsides after a few days.
I also have significant numbness on the inner side of my left shin. I can walk fine, but running is out of the question because my left leg feels too weak.
This has been a constant issue for over two months now.
Physical therapy didn't do much for me. My only hope is sticking to the specific exercises they showed me; perhaps those will actually help.