Herniated Disc Chiropractor In Sioux Falls, SD

Gentle Herniated Disc Care Without Twisting or Cracking

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Most people with a herniated disc are already guarding their spine. The muscles around the injured disc tighten up to protect it, and the idea of someone forcefully twisting that area is the last thing they want.

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That's exactly why we practice the way we do. Back Specialists is the only clinic in Sioux Falls that uses the Activator Method for 100% of patient care. Every adjustment is precise and low-force, delivered with a small handheld instrument. There's no twisting, no cracking, and no high-velocity manipulation. For disc patients, that difference matters.

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What Is a Herniated Disc?

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Between each vertebra in your spine sits a disc that acts as a cushion. Each disc has a tough outer ring and a softer, gel-like center. A herniated disc happens when some of that inner material pushes through a weakened area in the outer ring. When it presses on or irritates a nearby nerve, it can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels away from the spine.

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A herniated disc is not the same as a bulging disc, though the two are often confused. Dr. Hagen explains the difference in Herniated Disc vs. Bulging Disc: What's the Difference?

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Lumbar (Low Back) Herniated Discs

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Most herniated discs happen in the lower back. When a lumbar disc irritates a nerve root, the result is often sciatica: pain, numbness, or tingling that runs through the buttock and down the leg. Learn more about our approach to low back pain.

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Cervical (Neck) Herniated Discs

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A herniated disc in the neck can cause neck pain along with symptoms that travel into the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers. Some patients notice grip weakness or trouble with fine movements. Learn more about our approach to neck pain.

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Common Signs of a Herniated Disc

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Symptoms depend on where the herniation is and which nerve it affects. Common signs include:

• Sharp or burning pain in the low back or neck

• Pain that travels down one leg or one arm

• Numbness or tingling in the foot, toes, hand, or fingers

• Muscle weakness in the leg or arm

• Pain that gets worse with sitting, bending, coughing, or sneezing

• Difficulty standing up straight after sitting

 

Some people have a disc herniation that shows up on an MRI but causes few or no symptoms at all. That's one reason we always treat the person, not just the imaging report.

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What Causes a Herniated Disc?

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Herniated discs can develop gradually or happen suddenly. Common causes we see in Sioux Falls include:

• Lifting and bending, especially lifting with a twist

• Car accidents, including low-speed rear-end collisions

• Work injuries in warehouse, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing jobs

• Long hours of sitting at a desk or behind the wheel

• Winter strain, like shoveling heavy South Dakota snow

• Age-related disc changes that make discs less resilient over time

 

Why the Activator Method Is Built for Disc Injuries

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When a disc is irritated, the surrounding muscles contract to protect it. Traditional high-force adjustments have to work against that tension, which is exactly what makes many disc patients uneasy.

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The Activator Method works differently. The instrument delivers a quick, precise impulse to a specific point on the spine. It fires faster than muscles can react, so your body doesn't have time to tense up against it. The result is a targeted adjustment without loading or twisting the injured area.

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The Activator Method is the most widely researched instrument-assisted chiropractic technique in the world, and it's Medicare-approved. Learn more on our Activator Method page.

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How Back Specialists Treats Herniated Discs

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A Thorough Exam and Imaging Review

Every disc case starts with a detailed history and neurological exam. We check reflexes, strength, sensation, and how your symptoms respond to specific tests. Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen has completed more than 1,700 hours of post-graduate training in X-ray and reviews imaging personally. If you already have an MRI or X-rays, bring them to your first visit.

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Precise Activator Adjustments

Once we understand what's driving your symptoms, we build a care plan around gentle Activator adjustments. Every visit is performed by a doctor who is Advanced Proficiency Rated, the highest credential available through Activator Methods International.

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Honest Progress Tracking

We re-check your symptoms and neurological signs as care progresses. If you're improving, we'll keep going. If you aren't improving the way you should be, we'll tell you, and we'll talk about next steps, including additional imaging or a referral to a specialist.

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Coordination With Your Medical Team

Many of our disc patients are also working with a primary care provider, physical medicine doctor, or spine surgeon. We're glad to coordinate care and share findings. Good disc care is a team effort.

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What the Research Says About Herniated Discs

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The research on conservative care for herniated discs is more encouraging than most people expect. Studies show that most lumbar disc herniations shrink or resolve over time, that surgical and non-surgical patients often reach similar long-term outcomes, and that medical guidelines recommend starting with non-drug, non-surgical care for most back pain.

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Dr. Hagen breaks down the major studies in detail in Can a Chiropractor Help a Herniated Disc? What the Research Says.

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Considering Surgery, or Still Hurting After One?

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If a surgeon has told you surgery is an option but not urgent, a trial of conservative care first is often a reasonable choice. Many patients who start there never need the operation. Read Considering Back Surgery? Try Chiropractic First.

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If you've already had disc surgery and you're still in pain, you're not alone. Failed Back Surgery Syndrome is one of Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen's areas of focus. Post-surgical spines need the most careful approach possible, and the gentle, low-force Activator Method never involves twisting a spine that has been operated on. Read Why Am I Still in Pain After Back Surgery?

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Herniated Disc After a Car Accident or Work Injury

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Disc injuries are common after car accidents and on-the-job injuries, and symptoms sometimes take days to appear. Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen has completed the Whiplash Masters Program and post-graduate training in cervical trauma, accident reconstruction, personal injury, and AMA impairment rating.

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We document injuries thoroughly, work with attorneys, and know the claims process cold. We accept PIP, MedPay, at-fault liability, and Workers' Compensation. Learn more about our whiplash and auto accident care and work injury care.

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When a Herniated Disc Needs Emergency Care

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We're not the right fit for everyone, and some disc symptoms need immediate medical attention. Go to the emergency room right away if you experience:

• Loss of bladder or bowel control, or new difficulty urinating

• Numbness in the groin, inner thighs, or buttocks

• Rapidly worsening weakness in a leg or foot, such as foot drop

• Back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, or a history of cancer

 

These can be signs of serious conditions such as cauda equina syndrome. If we find any of these signs during an exam, we'll refer you out the same day.

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Meet Your Herniated Disc Chiropractors

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Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen, D.C.

Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen is a third generation chiropractor from a family of 28 or more chiropractors and a 1977 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. He is Advanced Proficiency Rated in the Activator Method, one of only five doctors in the Sioux Empire with that credential, and was named South Dakota Chiropractor of the Year in 2009. With nearly 50 years in practice, he focuses on complex and difficult spinal cases, auto injuries, and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. Read Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen's full bio.

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Dr. Sean Hagen, D.C.

Dr. Sean Hagen is a fourth generation chiropractor and a 2022 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. He is also Advanced Proficiency Rated in the Activator Method. Together, Dr. Bruce Jon and Dr. Sean are the only father-son Advanced Proficiency Rated Activator team in the region. Read Dr. Sean Hagen's full bio.

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Insurance for Herniated Disc Care

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We're in-network with Avera, Sanford, BCBS, DakotaCare, Wellmark, Medicare Part B, and ChiroHealth USA. We also accept PIP, MedPay, at-fault liability, and Workers' Compensation claims. For coverage questions, call our office at 605-361-1700 or visit our insurance information page.

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Herniated Disc FAQs

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Can a chiropractor help a herniated disc?

For many patients, yes. Research shows most herniated discs improve without surgery, and medical guidelines recommend starting with conservative care. At Back Specialists, we use the gentle Activator Method to support that healing process without twisting or cracking the spine.

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Is the Activator Method safe for a herniated disc?

For most patients without emergency warning signs, yes. The Activator Method is a gentle, low-force, instrument-assisted adjustment with no twisting, no cracking, and no high-velocity manipulation. Every patient receives a thorough exam first, and we refer out when another kind of care is needed.

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Will I need surgery for my herniated disc?

Most people with a herniated disc never need surgery. Surgery is typically considered for severe or worsening nerve symptoms, or when conservative care has not helped. If your exam suggests you need a surgical consultation, Dr. Hagen will tell you honestly and help you take that next step.

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How long does it take to recover from a herniated disc?

It depends on the size and location of the herniation, how long you have had symptoms, and your overall health. Many patients notice changes within the first few weeks. After your exam, we will give you an honest estimate and adjust it based on how you respond to care.

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Do you treat herniated discs in the neck?

Yes. Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen and Dr. Sean Hagen treat both cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) disc herniations. Neck disc problems often cause pain, numbness, or tingling into the shoulder, arm, or hand.

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Do I need an MRI or a referral before my first visit?

No. Many patients start care without an MRI, and you do not need a referral to see a chiropractor in South Dakota, although some insurance plans have their own rules. If you already have imaging, bring it to your first visit.

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Get Gentle Relief From Your Herniated Disc in Sioux Falls

A herniated disc diagnosis doesn't automatically mean surgery, and it doesn't mean you have to live with the pain. If you want an honest opinion about whether gentle Activator care can help, we'd be glad to meet you. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you that too.

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Schedule Your New Patient Visit or call 605-361-1700.

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Back Specialists
5109 S Crossing Place, Suite 1, Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8am to 6pm | Wed, Sat: 8am to 12pm