Herniated Disc Treatment Options

A herniated disc, or slipped disc as it is more commonly known as, can be painful as the spinal nerves and the spinal cord feel a pinch. When this happens, the nerves are not able to send correct signals, or sometimes are not able to send any signals at all. Herniated disc in neck can cause you to feel something similar to an electric shock like pain down your arms, and in case of herniated disc in back you experience severe lower back pain. Some patients also feel numbness, tingling sensation, muscle weakness and unbearable back pain. Most often your physician can diagnose it and recommend suitable treatment options. It is advisable that you get an X-ray, MRI scan, and physical examination before you consider treatment options for a herniated disc.

Non-Surgical Options

If you are suffering from a bulging disc or disc herniation there are several non-surgical treatment options that will relieve pain and help you to resume normal activities. Herniated disc therapy largely depends on the severity of the pain experienced, and the duration of the pain.

Home Remedies
Herniated disc treatment at home with some extra care is possible, and avoiding heavy exercise and activity is very beneficial. Application of ice and heat packs also helps relieve the pain and allows the disc to slip back into its original position. Isometric exercises and selected massage techniques also help along with some herniated disc treatment exercises and extensions. Herniated disc exercises seems to bring long-term relief from the problem and also act as deterrents for future complications.

Physical Therapy
Specific exercise plans to treat the affected region, devised by a physical therapist, can help in the treatment of herniated disc. A chiropractor can also help model an individualized exercise plan, as a large majority of patients find relief by physical therapy, making it a popular treatment option. Physical therapy also reduces the risk of injury and helps prevent recurrence of the problem. Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy help relieve the pain and also strengthen the muscles.

Medication
Physicians, after diagnosing the symptoms, generally put patients on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) program. These medications fight the inflammation, which may be the root cause of the nerve pain. Sometimes muscle relaxants and painkillers are prescribed for a few days for relieving the back pain, although they only provide temporary relief and are not long-term options.

Spinal Steroids
Oral steroids like prednisone and medrol are used for disc herniation and on rare occasions epidural steroid injections are administered. Cortisone injections are given around the nerve roots and the skin is numbed with local anesthetics before giving these injections. They reduce the inflammation around the nerves and stimulate the release of anti-inflammatory proteins.

Surgical Options

If the patient's condition does not improve after exhaustive conservative treatment options for herniated disc, then as a last resort, surgery will be recommended. Surgery is recommended only in few cases after non-invasive treatment does not yield any results even after 6-8 weeks. Patients with substantial pain, weakness and signs of cauda equina syndrome are suggested to go for a surgical procedure. Discetomy is the most preferred methods of surgery used in herniated disc treatment. In this type of surgery, a 2-3 inch incision is made on the back and the disc material that has herniated is cut. The incision is then sutured closed. The recovery time in the hospital is about 2-3 days. Post operative recovery is considerably fast and pain relief is instant, but operation procedure related pain is experienced for several days. Some of the other treatment options are endoscopic and microscopic excision, which are used in very rare cases.

Lifestyle changes and change in rest patterns are needed for a full recovery. Although there are several treatment options, it is imperative that the person does extensive investigative tests before choosing a treatment. Activity, age, and the pain experienced can also factor into the choice of treatment.