How is a herniated disc treated?
Disease description:
I often experience lower back pain, sometimes so severe that I can only walk bent over. After going to the hospital for an examination, I was diagnosed with a herniated disc. How should this condition be treated?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Common treatment options for herniated discs:
1. Bed rest: Strict bed rest to reduce pressure on the intervertebral discs and promote inflammation resolution.
2. Physical therapy: Such as traction, manipulation, massage, infrared irradiation, and ultrasound therapy, which can relieve muscle spasms, reduce intradiscal pressure, and improve symptoms.
3. Medication: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or analgesics may be used to help alleviate pain and inflammation.
4. Minimally invasive surgery: For example, endoscopic discectomy, which removes the herniated disc through a small incision, offering the advantages of less trauma and faster recovery.
5. Traditional surgery: Patients with accompanying spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis may require traditional surgical procedures for disc removal and spinal decompression.
