Can lumbar disc herniation be treated with massage?

Lumbar disc herniation can be treated with massage, but the actual therapeutic effect is not always favorable. In the early stages—such as disc bulging or mild herniation—massage therapy may help relieve muscle spasm and thus provide some benefit. However, according to the pathophysiology of lumbar disc herniation, the protruding intervertebral disc compresses neural structures. During the acute phase, when nerve roots are already severely edematous, massage may exacerbate neural compression, potentially causing irreversible neurological damage—or even catastrophic neurological deterioration. Conversely, certain targeted therapies can promote retraction (“reduction”) of the herniated disc material, thereby alleviating discogenic pain. Beyond pain relief, such treatments facilitate the diffusion of water and nutrients into the intervertebral disc, supporting disc nutrition and repair of both the disc itself and its surrounding structures.