When it comes to herniated disc treatments, there are many options to explore. A herniated or ruptured disc can cause localized disc pain to arise in your neck or back, depending on its location in your spine. If extruded disc material comes into contact with your spinal cord or nerve roots, additional symptoms of radiating pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling could affect your arms or legs. Initially, your doctor will probably recommend a course of nonsurgical, or conservative, treatments to help relieve your symptoms.

Conservative Methods

Conservative treatments are considered the first line of defense when it comes to treating herniated disc symptoms. Among members of the mainstream medical community, these methods are known to be generally effective for symptom mitigation. Every individual with a herniated disc may follow a slightly different treatment plan and, truth be told, you may endure a period of trial-and-error while you and your doctor determine which conservative therapies are the most effective for you and which ones are not.

Some of the most common herniated disc treatments include:

– Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – Also known as NSAIDs, these drugs are often used to combat mild to moderate pain, and can help quell the inflammation-inducing proteins that the body produces when tissues are damaged (e.g., when a disc herniates). Common versions of NSAIDs include ibuprofen and aspirin.

– Opioid pain medications – Opioids, or narcotic pain medications, are most often used to treat acute, severe pain. These drugs attach to the opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, and alter how the brain perceives pain signals. Doctors usually prescribe opioids only for serious pain, as these drugs are known to be addictive. Common opioids include hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine.

– Physical therapy – Physical therapy is one of the most important herniated disc treatments because it can help you find relief from your symptoms, as well as teach you how to avoid aggravating your condition. One of the main focuses of physical therapy is increasing core muscle strength and flexibility, which can both contribute to a properly supported spine.

– Cryotherapy – Also known as cold therapy, cryotherapy involves the use of ice packs, ice massage, or other cooling methods to numb pain, reduce inflammation, and help calm muscle spasms. This treatment method is often alternated with thermotherapy.

– Thermotherapy – Also known as heat therapy, thermotherapy involves the use of heating pads, hot baths, or other warming methods to increase oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood flow to affected area of the spine.

– Muscle relaxants – These medications work to relax muscles, particularly those that are spastic. Muscle spasms are often a symptom of a herniated disc, and can accompany nerve compression symptoms, though spastic muscles can cause a significant amount of pain on their own. A common muscle relaxant is cyclobenzaprine.

– Epidural steroid injections – These injections can be helpful treatments for herniated disc pain. A blend of steroids (to reduce inflammation) and anesthetics (to reduce pain) are injected directly into the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord. Injections can often provide immediate pain relief that typically lasts a few months.

Alternative Options

You may also choose to explore alternative herniated disc treatments that take a holistic approach to pain relief. The overall efficacy of alternative treatments is often questioned by members of the mainstream medical community, but, with guidance from your doctor and a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioner, you may decide to add alternative therapies to your treatment plan.

Some common alternative treatment methods include:

– Acupuncture – This is an ancient Chinese treatment for pain, involving the insertion of thin needles into the skin at specific meridians, or energy channels, which are believed to course throughout the body. The Chinese believe that pain arises when meridians are blocked, and the needles are thought to clear the meridians of blockage.

– Acupressure – Similar to acupuncture, acupressure involves the use of hands, fingers, and elbows to stimulate specific meridian points with manual pressure.

– Massage – Kneading the muscles and soft tissues of the spine can help to soothe pain, ease muscle spasms, increase blood flow, and promote the flushing of cellular wastes and toxins from muscles.

– Chiropractic adjustments – Chiropractors evaluate the spine as a whole and adjust the spine manually to help realign vertebrae and facet joints. This realignment is believed to relieve nerve compression temporarily.

Listen to Your Body

The most important thing to remember while attempting conservative and/or alternative herniated disc treatments is to listen to your body. If something causes pain, it’s probably not going to help you in the long run. Work closely with your doctor to determine which treatments are the most suitable for your unique herniated disc situation.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of herniated discs and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for herniated discs and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/herniated_disc/treatment/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of herniated discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Herniated disc treatment