- Rest. One to 2 days of bed rest will usually help relieve back and leg pain. ...
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain.
- Physical therapy. ...
- Epidural steroid injection.
What is the best herniated disc treatment option out there?
Jan 13, 2016 · Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed, and often help relieve the pain associated with a disc herniation. 3 By reducing inflammation, these medications can relieve some pressure on the compressed nerves. NSAIDs should be used under your healthcare provider's supervision. Oral Steroid Medications
How long for herniated disc to heal without surgery?
Jul 21, 2010 · What is the best treatment for lumbar disc herniations? Results: For patients failing six weeks of conservative care, the current literature supports surgical intervention or prolonged conservative management as appropriate treatment options for lumbar radiculopathy in the setting of disc herniation.
Can herniated discs heal by themselves without surgery?
Alternating between hot and cold compresses is an easy, at-home herniated disc treatment. The application of warmth helps promote blood flow and muscle relaxation, while a cold pack helps to reduce swelling and numbs the area. Epidural steroid injections. Epidural injections can be an effective way of relieving severe pain.
How to treat a herniated disc without surgery?
Jan 18, 2022 · Exercise or is an important herniated disc treatment. It is also essential for optimal physical and mental health. Exercises and stretches that may help relieve your pain when performed as directed by your physical therapist include: Yoga Cycling Swimming Walking Towel hamstring stretch Neck stretches Back flexion stretch
What is the fastest way to heal a herniated disc?
How to heal a herniated disc quicklyAlternate applying heat and cold.Stay as active as you can. Take walks to avoid becoming too stiff from resting too often.Try alternative treatments like acupuncture, massage, or chiropractic.Jan 27, 2022
Can a severely herniated disc heal on its own?
The good news is that in most cases — 90% of the time — pain caused by a herniated disc will go away on its own within six months. Initially, your doctor will likely recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever and limit activities that cause pain or discomfort.Sep 1, 2020
How do you permanently treat a herniated disc?
Physical therapy, exercise and gentle stretching to help relieve pressure on the nerve root. Ice and heat therapy for pain relief. Manipulation (such as chiropractic manipulation) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or COX-2 inhibitors for pain relief.
How do you treat a herniated disc in your lower back?
1. Heat and cold therapy can help relieve muscle tension and pain.Apply heat to your back in the morning or prior to stretching/exercise to decrease muscle tension. ... Try placing a heating pad or hot compress against your lower back periodically throughout the day.More items...
Is walking good for herniated disc?
Absolutely. Walking is an excellent choice for patients with herniated discs, as it stimulates blood flow and oxygen to the cells. It also helps keep your discs hydrated, which is important for healing. Other low-impact aerobic activities to try are swimming and cycling.Jan 14, 2019
Can a herniated disc paralyze you?
With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs. A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis.
What is the most common treatment for herniated discs?
Herniated Disc Treatment OptionsOral medications and/or steroid injections to reduce pain and inflammation.Physical therapy to reduce stiffness and pressure on the nerves in the spine.Hot or cold packs for pain relief.Manual manipulation, such as massage or chiropractic care.
What to avoid when you have a herniated disc?
Everyday Activities to Avoid with Herniated DiscSitting too much. Sitting puts more stress on your spinal discs, especially when slouching forward in a seat. ... Doing laundry. ... Vacuuming. ... Feeding a pet. ... Strenuous exercise. ... Shoveling snow or gardening. ... Learn more:
What percentage of herniated discs require surgery?
When & How to Seek Medical Care Fortunately, the majority of herniated discs do not require surgery. With time, the symptoms of sciatica/radiculopathy improve in approximately 9 out of 10 people. The time to improve varies, ranging from a few days to a few weeks.
What happens if a herniated disc goes untreated?
Untreated herniated discs with symptoms can become more painful and debilitating as time goes on. You may also experience bladder and bowel dysfunction and saddle anesthesia, so-called because it affects the areas on your body that would touch a saddle if you were sitting on a horse.
How does a surgeon fix a herniated disc?
Discectomy is the most common surgery used for herniated disc in the lumbar region. In this procedure, the portion of the disc that is causing the pressure on your nerve root is removed. In some cases, the entire disc is removed. The surgeon will access the disc through an incision in your back (or neck).
Is herniated disc permanent?
Most of the time, pain associated with a herniated disc goes away on its own over a period of weeks or months and does not cause permanent damage to the spine or nerves. A herniated disc can occur in any part of the spine, but it is most common in the lower back (the lumbar spine) and the neck (the cervical spine).
What is the best treatment for a herniated disc?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed, and often help relieve the pain associated with a disc herniation. 3 By reducing inflammation, these medications can relieve some pressure on the compressed nerves. NSAIDs should be used under your doctor's supervision.
How to relieve a herniated disc?
Ice and heat application can be extremely helpful in relieving the painful symptoms of a disc herniation. 1 By helping to relax the muscles of the back, ice and heat applications can relieve muscle spasm and provide significant pain relief.
How soon after a herniated disc can you get surgery?
However, surgical treatment of a herniated disc may be recommended soon after the injury if several weeks of non-operative treatment doesn't provide adequate relief. It's important to realize that the size of the disc herniation and the amount of nerve compression doesn't dictate whether you will need surgery.
What is the purpose of a disc herniation injection?
Like oral anti-inflammatory medications, the goal is to relieve the irritation of the nerves. When the injection is used, the medication is delivered to the area of the disc herniation, rather than being taken orally and traveling throughout your body. 3 .
When will a herniated disc be treated?
on August 23, 2020. Treatment of a herniated disc depends on a number of factors including: when the disc herniation occurred, symptoms experienced by the patient, the age of the patient, activity level, and the presence of worsening symptoms. microgen / Getty Images.
Does lumbar stabilization help with herniated disc?
Physical therapy and lumbar stabilization exercises do not directly alter the herniated disc, but they can stabilize the lumbar spine muscles. This has an effect of decreasing the load experienced by the disc and vertebrae.
How to treat a herniated disc?
Some exercises can help improve the symptoms of a herniated disc. A physical therapist can teach you which ones strengthen the muscles that support your back. Physical therapy programs also include: 1 Stretching exercises to keep your muscles flexible 2 Aerobic exercises -- such as walking or riding a stationary bicycle 3 Massage 4 Ice and heat 5 Ultrasound therapy 6 Electrical muscle stimulation
How to protect your spine from a herniated disk?
To protect your spine and prevent another herniated disk, you should always sit and stand up straight. If you have to stand for a long period of time , rest one foot on a stool or box to take pressure off your back. Be careful when you lift anything heavy. Squat from your knees to pick it up.
How long does it take for a herniated disk to heal?
Most people with a herniated disk don't need surgery. Rest and other treatments should start to improve your symptoms within 4 to 6 weeks. But if your pain doesn’t improve, surgery might be an option. Talk to your doctor about surgery if: You’re not getting relief from pain relievers, injections, and physical therapy.
What is the bone that is removed from a herniated disc?
Sometimes your surgeon will also need to remove a small piece of bone called the lamina from the vertebra. The lamina forms a protective cover over your spinal cord. Removing part or all of it helps the surgeon access your herniated disk. It also can relieve pressure on your nerves and eliminate leg pain and sciatica.
What is the best medicine for back spasms?
And nerve pain medicines, such as amitriptyline ( Elavil, Vanatrip ), duloxetine ( Cymbalta ), ...
What is the procedure called when you have two disks in your back?
This is called spinal fusion . Fusing the two disks will stop the bones from moving and prevent you from having any more pain. Artificial disk surgery. Only a few people are good candidates for artificial disk surgery because it only works on certain disks in your lower back.
How to stop back pain from a sprain?
You need to keep moving so your joints and muscles don't stiffen up. You can also use ice and heat to help relieve your pain. Just place an ice pack or warm wet towel on the area of your back that is sore. You can alternate hot and cold, or use whichever feels best.
Conservative herniated disc treatment
Conservative herniated disc treatment should almost always be fully attempted before considering surgery. Over time, these treatments can ease your herniated disc symptoms enough to enjoy a good quality of life. However, it can take some time for you to find the perfect combination of nonsurgical treatments to relieve your symptoms.
Conservative (nonsurgical) treatments include
The use of pain medication. Pain medication can be an effective short-term solution to managing the symptoms that frequently accompany a herniated disc. In many cases, over-the-counter acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be helpful under the guidance of a physician.
Examples of alternative treatments include
Yoga or Pilates. Many patients turn to regular yoga or Pilates classes to complement their herniated disc treatment plan. These classes can be helpful because they can increase flexibility, help a patient shed excess body weight and tend to be relaxing.
Common lifestyle improvements include
Modifying your posture. Making an effort to improve your posture is a relatively easy step that can make a significant improvement in your overall spine health. Maintaining good posture extends beyond standing up straight, and also includes the way you sit, sleep and go about your day.
How long does it take to heal a herniated disc?
For lumbar and cervical herniated discs, conservative (non-surgical) treatments can usually be applied for around four to six weeks to help reduce pain and discomfort. A process of trial and error is often necessary to find the right combination of treatments.
What is the best treatment for nerve pain?
Physical therapy, exercise and gentle stretching to help relieve pressure on the nerve root. Ice and heat therapy for pain relief. Manipulation (such as chiropractic manipulation) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or COX-2 inhibitors for pain relief.
How to treat a swollen nerve root?
A combination of the following conservative treatment options can be used through at least the first six weeks of discomfort and pain: 1 Physical therapy, exercise and gentle stretching to help relieve pressure on the nerve root 2 Ice and heat therapy for pain relief 3 Manipulation (such as chiropractic manipulation) 4 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or COX-2 inhibitors for pain relief 5 Narcotic pain medications for pain relief 6 Oral steroids to decrease inflammation for pain relief 7 Epidural injections to decrease inflammation for pain relief
Can conservative surgery be used for pain?
For those patients who experience severe pain and a high loss of function and don’t find relief from conservative treatments, surgery may be considered as an option.
Can you have spine surgery for a herniated disc?
In general, patients usually are advised to start with a course of conservative care (non-surgical) prior to considering spine surgery for a herniated disc. Whereas this is true in general, for some patients early surgical intervention is beneficial.
How long does it take for a herniated disc to heal?
If the pain and other symptoms of a lumbar herniated disc persist after six weeks, surgery is often considered. A lumbar herniated disc is the most common reason for spine surgery in adults during their working years. 1
What is the procedure to remove a disc?
These procedures take the pressure off the nerve root and provide a better healing environment for the disc. See Microdiscectomy (Microdecompression) Spine Surgery. Usually, only the small portion of the disc that is pushing against the nerve root needs to be removed, and the majority of the disc remains intact.
How long does it take to recover from a lumbar discectomy?
Most patients can return to work and their regular routines in one to three weeks. See Lumbar Discectomy Outpatient Spine Surgery.
Is lumbar herniated disc surgery successful?
Surgery for a lumbar herniated disc has a high rate of success . One extensive medical study reported good or excellent results for 84% of those having a microdiscectomy and nearly 80% for those having an endoscopic microdiscectomy. 2
Is back surgery good for back pain?
These procedures have not been as successful in easing back pain, and are typically not performed if back pain is the main issue. The medical literature has shown some benefits for surgery compared with nonsurgical treatment, though in some cases the difference lessens over time.
Is microdiscectomy a low risk procedure?
advertisement. While microdiscectomy and endoscopic microdiscectomy are considered low-risk procedures, all surgery has risks. About 10% of patients having a microdiscectomy will experience another disc herniation at the same location.
What exercise program is used for herniated lumbar disc?
According to this Clinical Evaluation and Treatment Options for Herniated Lumbar Disc “The McKenzie exercise program is believed to be one of the most beneficial. This program is individualized to the patient’s symptoms and emphasizes exercises that minimize or centralize radiating pain.” [5]
What is the condition of lumbar disc herniation?
IMPORTANT: An extremely rare symptom of lumbar disc herniation is the loss of bowel or bladder control, which may signal that a more serious problem is lurking – cauda equina syndrome. This syndrome results from compression of the spinal nerve roots and is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
What is the name of the material that ruptures between the vertebrae?
Between each vertebrae is an intervertebral disc that provides a cushion so the vertebrae don’t rub together. Furthermore, these discs (intervertebral discs) between the vertebrae, have a gel-like material inside (called a nucleus pulposus). A herniated disc is when that gel-like material ruptures through the outer layer of disc, ...
What is a herniated disc?
A herniated disc is when that gel-like material ruptures through the outer layer of disc, and can press on the spinal cord or spinal nerves, resulting in symptoms, including disabling back pain and other associated symptoms that can make everyday activities difficult to perform. [2]
How to get a herniated disc back to neutral?
– Begin this exercise by standing up with good posture.
How to reduce pain in lower back?
Physical therapy – performing specific exercises to increase range of motion and strengthen muscles in your lower back and core may help to relieve pain and reduce your chance of re-injuring yourself. Spinal manipulation – manipulation of the joints of the lower back may help to improve range of motion and decrease pain.
What are the exercises to help stabilize your spine?
Exercises 6 and 7 are meant to help stabilize and align your spine so that you don’t get herniated discs in the future. …. 6. Bird Dog. How it helps – This exercise will help strengthen and stabilize your lower back and deep spine muscles.
Diagnosis
Treatment
- Conservative treatment — mainly modifying activities to avoid movement that causes pain and taking pain medication — relieves symptoms in most people within a few days or weeks.
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Besides taking the pain medications your doctor recommends, try: 1. Applying heat or cold.Initially, cold packs can be used to relieve pain and inflammation. After a few days, you might switch to gentle heat to give relief and comfort. 2. Avoiding too much bed rest.Staying in bed can lead to stiff joints and weak muscles — which can complicate your recovery. Instead, rest in a po…
Preparing For Your Appointment
- You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. You might be referred to a doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedic surgery, neurology, or neurosurgery.