Herniated Disc Treatment Options to Know About

Sharp, breath-taking pain radiating from your back and down your legs isn’t something a sane person would ever ignore. Back pain is a common phenomenon in the United States. Approximately 8 percent of all adults suffer from chronic back pain.

But this pain is different. When you get to the point where you’re holding onto the wall for support and wincing as you attempt to get up from a chair, you need medical attention. You most likely have a problem with your disc, be it a herniated disc, a disc bulge, or a slipped disc.

Regardless, you’ll do anything to find relief from your pain. When you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll know several common treatments for intense back pain. 

Rest

Many doctors take a conservative approach at first. They’ll recommend rest for intense back pain, knowing that rest will help most anything heal. Rest will alleviate swelling and give you back a chance to heal. 

As you rest, you should avoid all kinds of exercise. A doctor may suggest you rest in bed for a short period. But you should not just stay off your feet for days on end. 

Keep moving so your joints don’t suffer and muscles don’t stiffen up. 

You will find this back pain relief solution at just about any chiropractor. As you rest, you should swap heat and cold therapy on your back to reduce inflammation. 

Pharmaceutical Solutions

Your doctor will also most likely recommend you take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication and pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen. This medication will bring down swelling and alleviate your discomfort. 

Doctors may prescribe a narcotic as well for a short-term solution if the over-the-counter meds aren’t powerful enough to alleviate the pain. If you’re experiencing muscle spasms, your doctor will prescribe muscle relaxers as well. 

Stretching and Therapy

Physical therapy has brought some patients pain relief from a herniated disc. The physical therapist will use a combination of treatments including stretching exercises, massage, heat, ice, ultrasound therapy, and electrical muscle stimulation. 

Steroid Injections

If you’re still experiencing pain or have recurring problems with a disc, a doctor will recommend a steroid injection. A pain specialist will inject the area around your back with a steroid. Steroid injections have brought many patients nearly immediate relief. 

Within a day or two, they’re able to function like normal. The effects of steroid injections can last several days and up to as long as a year. You may need more than a single shot to alleviate the pain, though. 

Surgical Solutions

Surgery is the most invasive solution for a herniated disk, and thus it is reserved only for the most severe cases. If all other treatments have failed, you may have to resort to surgery. 

If you’ve experienced increasingly worse symptoms such as weak legs, trouble standing or walking, or loss of bladder or bowel function, it’s time for immediate action. 

The surgical procedures vary. The most common is the diskectomy or the microdiscectomy.

With a diskectomy, the surgeon will completely remove the disc. With a microdiscectomy, the surgeon will shave away the portion of the disc that is bulging and leave the remaining portion. 

Seek Wise Herniated Disc Treatment

If you have a herniated disc, you don’t have to resort to surgery. This is the most invasive herniated disc treatment available. It’s also the riskiest. 

If you suspect disc problems, seek medical attention. Your doctor will give you the best treatment options available for your particular problem. 

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