Maybe an MRI gave it a name. Maybe it's back or neck pain that now travels into an arm or leg. Either way, a herniated disc can sound frightening — but a diagnosis isn't a verdict. Many people find real relief with careful, conservative care, and that's where we start: understanding exactly what's going on before deciding anything.
A calm exam or adjustment in progress — reassuring, unhurried.
Dr. Andrew with an adult patient — attentive, unhurried, taking the time.
Between each bone in your spine sits a small cushion — a disc. When one bulges or tears, it can press on a nearby nerve, and that's when you feel it: not just local pain, but numbness, tingling, or weakness traveling into an arm or a leg. It's unsettling — especially when the word "disc" shows up on a report.
Here's what often gets lost in the fear: many disc-related problems improve with time and the right conservative care. Some need more than chiropractic can offer — and if yours is one of them, we'll tell you plainly and help you find the right next step. But for a lot of people, a herniated disc is something to address carefully, not panic about.
Disc problems aren't all the same, and they aren't all chiropractic problems. So before any care, we look closely — and we're honest about what we find.
Digital X-rays show the alignment and spacing of your spine, and our INSiGHT scans measure how the nearby nerves are functioning. Together they help us understand your situation — and flag anything that belongs in someone else's hands.
When it's a fit for conservative care, gentle, instrument-assisted adjustments with Torque Release Technique work to reduce the irritation around the affected nerve — low-force and precise, never a forceful crank on an already-sensitive spine.
From there, a plan that supports your body's own ability to adapt — adjustments, Shockwave Therapy for the surrounding muscle tension, and gentle movement guidance — designed to ease symptoms and support steady, lasting progress.
When a disc is involved, force is the last thing your spine needs. Both of these are gentle by design.
Our core approach. Torque Release Technique uses a small handheld instrument to deliver a precise, low-force adjustment — restoring motion and easing nerve irritation without the forceful twisting or cracking that understandably worries people with a disc issue.
Our techniqueThe muscles around an irritated disc often tighten up to protect the area — and that guarding can become its own source of pain. Focused Shockwave Therapy (PiezoWave) uses gentle acoustic waves to help that tissue release, added to your care when it's the right fit.
Shockwave therapy"God oriented establishment, with healing instrument. I have been coming here for over two months and my herniated discs in my neck are responding to the treatment. I am sleeping a lot better and able to move my neck. You are in good hands with Dr. Oestreich!"
"I came in for sciatica / herniated disc… Super excited to see where the plan takes me!"
"My back pain is the least it has been in years. And the doc not only genuinely cares but is quite possibly the most positive person I have ever met."
No surprises, no pressure. Here's how your first visit unfolds — and why we don't rush it.
A full health history — when the pain started, whether it travels into an arm or leg, what makes it better or worse, and what you want to get back to. We listen first. No script, no rush.
A structural and nervous-system exam with our INSiGHT scan, plus digital X-rays when appropriate — so we find the real source of your pain, not just where it hurts.
We sit down and walk through what we found in plain language, then build a care plan around your goals — the next step is always yours.
Day 1 is the evaluation — not the adjustment. Plan for about an hour. Any care begins at a follow-up, once you've seen the findings and decided what's right for you.
For many people, yes — gentle, conservative chiropractic care can help reduce the nerve irritation behind disc-related pain, and a lot of disc problems improve over time. Not every disc is a chiropractic case, though, so after a careful evaluation we'll be honest about whether we believe we can help and what that would look like.
Not necessarily. Many people find meaningful relief with conservative, non-invasive care, which is often a reasonable place to start. If your evaluation suggests your disc needs more than we can safely offer — or if you have warning signs like progressive weakness — we'll tell you directly and help you get to the right provider.
It's a fair question, and we never force a sensitive spine. Torque Release Technique is a gentle, low-force, instrument-delivered adjustment — and if your evaluation shows that adjusting isn't appropriate for your situation, we won't do it. We'd rather be honest than push. More about the technique.
They often overlap. A herniated disc is one possible cause; sciatica is a set of symptoms — pain, numbness, or tingling traveling down a leg — that a disc can trigger when it presses on a nerve. Sorting out which is which is part of what your evaluation is for.
We accept BCBS, Medicare, and United Healthcare, and we offer cash-pay and care plans too. Not sure whether you're covered? Call us at (254) 265-7007 and we'll check before your visit.
No referral needed — you can book directly. Just complete your new patient paperwork ahead of time and bring your ID and insurance card.
No. After your first visit we'll recommend a plan based on what we find and what you want to achieve — and the decision is always yours. Some people come in to get out of pain and feel like themselves again; others choose to keep up with care to stay that way. There's never any pressure.
