Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for herniated discs

by Prof. Jackson Waters Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medication

There are different herniated disc treatment options, including medication and injections, physical therapy and exercise, chiropractic care, and surgery, so let’s start with the most common and then move on to other forms of treatment.

Procedures

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

Therapy

Treatment for Lumbar Herniated Disc Video A combination of the following conservative treatment options can be used through at least the first six weeks of discomfort and pain: Physical therapy, exercise and gentle stretching to help relieve pressure on the nerve root Ice and heat therapy for pain relief

Self-care

Aug 23, 2020 · 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

Nutrition

The type of surgery used to treat herniated discs is called spine surgery and traditionally included microdiscectomy and spine fusions until various more advanced techniques were developed, like deuk laser disc repair, to expedite recovery and operation time and improve pain relief capability.

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So, what are the treatment options for disc herniation? One of the most common forms of general treatment is prescription medications and injections. Prescription medications include anti-inflammatory agents that can help strengthen the affected area and combat swelling and inflammation, not to mention pain medications to ease discomfort.

How to heal a herniated disc naturally?

Apr 22, 2022 · If you have a painful disc herniation or bulge and you don’t want to undergo surgery, or if surgery has failed, non-surgical regenerative medicine treatments provided by Dr. Warren J. Bleiweiss at Alternative Disc Therapy are powerful options that can help relieve your herniated disc-related pain. Regenerative Treatments for Disc Herniation ...

How long for herniated disc to heal without surgery?

Treatment of Herniated Disc If given time, herniated discs usually heal without much intervention. However, the patient should avoid activities that can aggravate the herniation. Therefore, doctors usually recommend rest. During the period of rest, the doctor can prescribe painkillers and anti inflammation drugs to help manage the pain.

Can herniated discs heal by themselves without surgery?

How does physical therapy help herniated disc?

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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

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.

Can a 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

What happens if a herniated disc goes untreated?

If a patient has a herniated disc and does nothing to treat it, severe nerve damage and pain can result. Some of the symptoms of untreated herniated discs include: Back/Neck pain. Nerve pain in the arms/legs.Apr 17, 2017

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

How do you know if you need surgery for a herniated disc?

Herniated disk surgery is an option if you're otherwise healthy but:You feel so much pain that you can't get around or do your daily activities.You have numbness or weakness from the disk pressing on nerves.You can't control your bladder or bowels.You have trouble standing or walking.Nov 18, 2020

Do herniated discs show up on xray?

Imaging tests Plain X-rays don't detect herniated disks, but they can rule out other causes of back pain, such as an infection, tumor, spinal alignment issues or a broken bone. CT scan.Feb 8, 2022

Can a chiropractor fix a herniated disc?

Nine out of ten individuals with a herniated disc can heal their condition through non-invasive procedures. If you want to explore conservative options for recovery, chiropractic care is an excellent place to start. A chiropractor can help you heal naturally and relieve your pain.Sep 10, 2021

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.

Are herniated discs serious?

The most serious complication from a herniated disc is the development of the cauda equina syndrome. This results when a very large fragment of disc material is ruptured into the spinal canal in the area where the nerves that control the bowels and bladder travel before they leave the spine.

Which is worse bulging or herniated disk?

Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.

Can you make a herniated disc worse?

Can you make a herniated disc worse? The pain from a herniated disc usually is worse when you are active and gets better when you are resting. Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward may make the pain worse.

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.

How to remove a disc?

Diskectomy. During this procedure, your surgeon removes your damaged disk to relieve pressure on your nerves. They can perform the surgery in a couple of ways: 1 Your surgeon performs open diskectomy via a cut in your back or neck. 2 Microdiscectomy is done through a much smaller incision. Your surgeon inserts a thin tube with a camera on one end to see and remove the damaged disk.

What is the procedure to fuse two vertebrae?

After a diskectomy or laminotomy, your surgeon may fuse together the two vertebrae on either side of the disk to stabilize your spine. 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.

What is the best medicine for back spasms?

And nerve pain medicines, such as amitriptyline ( Elavil, Vanatrip ), duloxetine ( Cymbalta ), ...

How to help a back that hurts?

Rest can relieve swelling and give your back time to heal. While your back hurts, avoid exercise and other activities where you have to bend or lift.

Can you control your bladder?

You can't control your bowels or bladder. Diskectomy. During this procedure, your surgeon removes your damaged disk to relieve pressure on your nerves. They can perform the surgery in a couple of ways: Your surgeon performs open diskectomy via a cut in your back or neck.

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.

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

Is trial and error necessary?

A process of trial and error is often necessary to find the right combination of treatments. Patients may try one treatment at a time or may find it helpful to use a combination of treatment options at once.

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.

Why do you need muscle relaxers?

It is important to use these for only brief periods of time. Muscle relaxers are used to treat spasm of spinal muscles often seen with disc herniations. 5  Often the muscle spasm is worse than the pain from the disc pressing on the nerves.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Not all herniated discs require intervention. Treatment may include medication, physiotherapy and surgery.
Medication

Analgesics: To relieve pain.

Ibuprofen


Narcotics: To relieve severe pain.

Codeine


Anticonvulsants: Treats radiating nerve pain.

Gabapentin


Muscle relaxants: To manage muscle spasms.

Metaxalone

Procedures

Spinal surgery: To correct abnormalities.

Therapeutic ultrasound: Uses heat and vibrations from sound waves to treat injuries.

Epidural steroid injection: Injection of cortisone reduces back, neck, arm and leg pain.

Therapy

Physical therapy:Minimizes pain through exercises. Stretching improves flexibility and physical function

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Physical exercise - improves cardiovascular health
  • Heating pad - soothes painful muscles
  • Avoid bed rest and continue low impact activities

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Calcium rich foods such as milk, vegetables, nuts
  • Antioxidants such as oranges
  • Omega 3 fatty acids rich foods such as salmon, fish
  • Sulphur rich foods such as onions, garlic, cabbage
  • Fiber rich foods such as whole grains, nuts, vegetables

Foods to avoid:

  • Processed foods high in nitrites such as Processed meat
  • High sugar, saturated fats, trans fat foods
  • Foods containing corn syrup

Specialist to consult

Neurologist
Specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves.
Neurosurgeon
Specializes in surgery on the nervous system, especially the brain and spinal cord.
Emergency medicine specialist
Specializes in identifying and managing illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention.
Orthopedic surgeon
Specializes in the surgery of bone and joint disorders.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Preparing For Your Appointment

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During the physical exam, your doctor will check your back for tenderness. You might be asked to lie flat and move your legs into various positions to help determine the cause of your pain. Your doctor may also perform a neurological exam to check your: 1. Reflexes 2. Muscle strength 3. Walking ability 4. Ability to f…
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